Firearm seized and two arrests

As part of the ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity in Westmeath, gardaí arrested two men and seized a firearm, on Wednesday, August 9 in Mullingar.

A plain clothes garda patrol attached to Mullingar Garda Station directed a car of interest to stop.

The car failed to stop for gardaí for a period of time.

When the car eventually stopped a male occupant fled the vehicle.

The male (30s) was chased and apprehended by Gardaí and arrested.

A bag which had been discarded during the foot chase was recovered by gardaí and a firearm and ammunition were seized.

Subsequently a second occupant of the vehicle, a male (50s), was arrested and both men were taken to a garda station in County Westmeath, where they are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.

A number of follow-up searches were conducted at residential premises in the Mullingar area and a number of items of evidence were also seized.

Investigations are ongoing.