This article is from page 4 of the 2006-04-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
GARDAÍ are investigating how a deadly arsenal of weapons came to be buried in the woods in Cratloe.
The cache of weapons — discovered embedded in an old stone wall in the woods — is described as being the biggest find made in Clare in recent years.
Gardaí involved in a search for stolen goods unearthed an improvised rocket launcher, four revolvers, three rifles, two shotguns, explosives and ammunition.
The army bomb disposal squad was called on and carried out a number of controlled explosions at the scene.
A Garda spokesman said that army personnel involved in the operation, “said that the missile was the first of its kind seen by them and had the potential to cause massive loss of life.”
Gardaí are investigating a number of possibilities as to how the items came to be left in the woods but cannot say as yet whether the weapons were intended for criminal or paramilitary use.
The spokesman said that while the rocket launcher was improvised, it was nonetheless “very sophisticated. This was a substantial find, the biggest in Clare in recent years, and it is all modern weaponry.”
He added that it was, “a very good day’s work when people’s lives are saved by removing these weapons off the street.”
After the bomb disposal team carried out their controlled explosions, samples of explosive material were taken to the Garda forensic laboratory for examination.
A team of 15 gardaí kept the area sealed off so that a full examination could be carried out.
The Garda search of the woods was prompted by investigations into a number of robberies in the East Clare area in recent times.
Stolen items are often recovered from the area as thieves use the woodlands to either dump or hide stolen items.
The Garda spokesman said that the cache was “well buried and we cannot say at this stage how long they were there.”
The last very significant weapons find in the county was in March 2004 when a quantity of arms was found close to the River Shannon’s edge near Parteen.
The find included 1,000 rounds of ammunition and a quantity of mercury, which could be used in making bombs.