Sawn-off shotgun seized in Midlands town after gardaí apprehend suspects

Gardai seized a sawn-off pump action shotgun and arrested two men in the Midlands yesterday. 

The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. 

The arrests occurred after 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.  This man in his 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 man in his 50s, was arrested and both men were taken to a Garda Station in 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.