Guns could have ended up with ‘dissident republicans’

SOME of the weapons seized in a massive cross-border operation this week could have ended up in the hands of dissident republicans, it has emerged.

Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Hugh Orde said lives had been “undoubtedly saved” on both sides of the border by the seizure of 41 high-powered weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition in Dublin and Belfast on Tuesday.

The comments came as gardaí investigated the Dublin-based gang behind the importation.

Gardaí believe Brian Meehan, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Veronica Guerin, was involved in organising the shipment using a mobile phone from his cell in Portlaoise prison.

Mr Orde was speaking as the PSNI put on display the 14 firearms and €500,000 cash seized. In the same operation, gardaí recovered 27 firearms and 20kgs of heroin in Dublin.

Mr Orde described the operation, which also involved both jurisdictions’ customs services, as well as the Dutch police, as one of the most successful joint operations with the Republic.

He said the seizure prevented the guns reaching dissident republicans.

The haul had “undoubtedly saved lives on both sides of the border”.

A man arrested in Belfast on Tuesday — a relative of Meehan — remained in custody yesterday.

Gardaí are still searching Portlaoise prison for the mobile that Meehan is thought to have used. A search of his cell on Tuesday failed to uncover it.