Women charged with arms offences

TWO women charged with firearms and explosives offences following the discovery of a major bomb-making factory in the middle of a loyalist estate in Co Antrim are due to appear in court today.

The 44-year-old and 19-year-old have each been charged with possession of explosives, ammunition and firearms with intent to endanger life.

They are due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court.

The find was made as police stepped up their campaign to keep feuding loyalist factions apart.

Officers seized a number of pipe bombs, a booby trap device, a handgun and ammunition and a quantity of bomb-making equipment during a 13-hour security operation at the Castlemara estate.

Bomb-making manuals, explosive powder, component parts for explosive devices and clothing were also discovered at the house in Castlemara Drive.

The discovery was made during follow-up searches after a shooting in the same area on Tuesday night.

Earlier this week a booby trap car bomb and other explosives were seized in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, close to where a man was shot and critically wounded.

Robert Ewart, 37, remains in a critical condition in hospital after he was shot several times by two masked gunmen who burst into his Dunluskin Gardens home, an attack linked to the feud between Johnny Adair and the mainstream Ulster Defence Association.