Loaded firearm pulled out of canal

GARDA divers yesterday pulled a loaded handgun from Dublin’s Grand Canal believed to have been thrown away by a man when he was challenged by officers.

Specialist units also recovered two mobile phones from the waterway following the alleged incident at Dolphin’s Barn which took place late on Wednesday night.

The 27-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene.

He is being questioned at Kilmainham Garda Station under the Offences Against the State Act.

Gardaí were called to Dolphin House, near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge, at about 11.40pm following reports of a man seen with a gun in his hand.

The Emergency Response Unit and Organised Crime Unit were also called in for armed back-up.

When they arrived the suspect tried to flee, running off towards the canal bank.

He was chased by gardaí who arrested him a short time later at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge. It is believed that the man, from Dublin, threw the firearm into the canal.

The scene was sealed off yesterday morning as the Garda Water Unit and a Divisional Search Team carried out a trawl of the canal.

Eyewitnesses looked on as Garda divers pulled what appeared to be a large, loaded handgun, with silencer attachment, from the canal at about 11.30am.

Two mobile phones were also pulled from the waterway close to Dolphin’s Barn Bridge.