Special Detective Unit in Cork to help investigation into Douglas gun-making workshop 

The investigation team is trying to gather information about a middle-aged man, who has been described as a 'gun enthusiast' by some sources, who was arrested in north Cork 

The suspect had a historic engagement with gardaí when he imported two decommissioned pistols from Europe, back in 2015, but no charges arose from that.

Garda national units have travelled to Cork to join local gardaí in their investigation into the discovery of a large gun-making workshop in a house on the southside of the city.

The investigation team is trying to gather information about a middle-aged man who was arrested in north Cork after off-duty detectives spotted him driving erratically in Mallow.

When they searched his car they recovered three suspected firearms and ammunition and, in a follow-on search at his home in Douglas, they uncovered a substantial quantity of firearms and parts of guns, including pistols and rifles.

The man has been described by some sources as a “gun enthusiast” who bought deactivated parts of weapons from abroad and then reassembled and reactivated them in his workshop.

Gardaí also recovered what they suspected to be improvised explosive devices and called in the Army bomb squad.

Detectives are gathering information about the man and why he was reassembling weapons, and if he was supplying them to other people.

The Special Detective Unit, which investigates security threats, is understood to have travelled from Dublin to Cork to join the local investigation.

They will be gathering information concerning the provenance of the firearms assembled and whether or not they were being supplied to anyone, and to whom.

While there were rumours that there could be links to dissident republicans, this appeared to have been discounted, but officers will reconsider that possibility if associates of the suspect reveal otherwise.

The suspect had a historic engagement with gardaí when he imported two decommissioned pistols from Europe, back in 2015, but no charges arose from that.

It is understood he has three legally held firearms.

The Irish Examiner understands he was not on radar of gardaí, or specialist units, in recent years.

Gardaí will carry out a detailed forensic examination of his mobile phone and other digital devices to see who he has been in contact with and where he might have sourced the firearms seized in his house.

Gardaí arranged for his elderly parents to stay in temporary accommodation for the duration of the search.

Locals shocked by discovery 

Neighbours in the estate in Douglas where the weapons were discovered said they were shocked by the news.

The family has been living at the well-maintained home there for more than 30 years where the suspect lives with his parents.

"They're a lovely couple," one neighbour who also asked not to be named said.

"I'd see him [the suspect] walking his dog here every day. He'd always say hi, he's very polite.

"We're all absolutely shocked by this."

Another neighbour said: “They’re a quiet family. I’d often see them walking their dog.

“This is a quiet place. Everyone’s shocked.”