Pipe bombs discovered on Castlebar waste-ground

Gardaí awaiting forensic examination after Castlebar pipe bomb discovery

Edwin McGreal and Áine Ryan

CASTLEBAR gardaí are awaiting a forensic report relating to two pipe bombs discovered on  waste ground adjoining An Sportlann and MacHale Park on Thursday morning last (November 13).  
A Garda spokeswoman confirmed to The Mayo News last night that ‘pending the results of the forensic examination they would be forwarding a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions’.
The pipe bombs were removed from the scene at Moneen by army bomb disposal experts.
The bomb scare led to gardaí evacuating a number of businesses in the vicinity after they discovered the devices concealed in a ditch in waste ground.
The waste-ground is located between the driving test centre at the side of An Sportlann and an industrial premises.
The army’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Unit declared the area safe at 2pm and took the suspect items away for further analysis. A security cordon was in place as were traffic restrictions, which have now been removed.
No arrests have been made and gardaí are requesting anyone with any information to contact them at Castlebar Garda Station on 094 9022222.
Meanwhile, gardaí also seized €19,000 worth of cannabis plants which they located at a house in the Springfield area of the town on the same morning.  
One person was arrested at the scene and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.