Gardaí search for stolen radioactive lightning preventers

Gardaí are still hunting for radioactive lightning preventers which were stolen in Swords, Co Dublin over the weekend.

The radioactive rods are described as "extremely dangerous" and were previously used to prevent damage to buildings like churches.

Anyone with any information about the rods is asked to contact the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.

"Being close to these you will receive that dose (the maximum dose limit) in a matter of a couple of hours," said Professor in Experimental Physics at Trinity College Dublin Ian McCauley.

"If you are very close by carrying them around close to your body in a bag or something like that you might exceed it so they are dangerous."