GARDAÍ have recovered weapons and bomb-making equipment as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity in the border region.
A Garda spokesman has confirmed that ongoing searches in the Scotstown area of Co Monaghan have resulted in the discovery of a number of firearms including AK47 assault rifles, mortars, detonators, detonating cord and other component parts of IED’s.
The searches are being carried out by members of the Garda Special Detective Unit, the Emergency Response Unit, the Garda Dog Unit and members from the Cavan/Monaghan divisional search team.
They follow the arrest last Wednesday of a 43-year-old man in the area under the provisions of Section 30, Offences Against the State Act 1939.
Jim Smyth appeared at an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin charged with IRA membership.
Mr Smyth, with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, Co Monaghan was charged with membership of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 25 2015.
The non-jury court remanded Mr Smyth in custody until tomorrow morning, when a bail application is expected to be heard.
