Hunt for armed gang after shootout

THE hunt was on last night for three members of a notorious criminal gang following a shoot-out at an isolated border county cottage and the discovery of a frightening arsenal of weapons.

As armed gardaí, air support and sniffer dogs descended on the quiet Co Cavan village of Virginia yesterday, a search of the cottage revealed an arsenal of more than 20 rifles, shotguns, sawn-off shotguns and handguns along with telescopic sights and a large quantity of ammunition.

A garda helicopter hovered over the countryside, helping search for at least three and possibly four armed fugitives who fled the scene of the shootout.