Viable explosive found in Westmeath

The Army Bomb Disposal Unit has confirmed it made safe a viable explosive device in Co Westmeath overnight.

The team was deployed to the scene in Ardilaun in Mullingar at about 3am this morning and evacuated a number of nearby houses.

A suspect item was removed for further testing and was later found to be viable.

It is the first viable device the unit has dealt with so far this year.