Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey has said he will be asking the Chief Constable for an assessment of terrorist capabilities following recent weapons seizures.

Mr Hussey, who is his Party’s representative on the Policing Board, said:

“The recent weapons finds near Larne at Capanagh Forest and Carnfunnock Country Park and indeed other seizures, demonstrate that violent republican groups have access to new weaponry in addition to Provisional IRA stockpiles that were not decommissioned.

“At the June meeting of the Policing Board I shall be asking a number of questions of the Chief Constable. In particular, I will be seeking an update of his assessment of the terrorist threat and of the current capability of terrorist groups.

“The type of weaponry recovered - an armour piercing rocket, timer switches, heavy calibre ammunition, cables and command wires enough for dozens of bombs and two claymore mines which it is reported were of military grade – gives cause for concern.

“It is vitally important not to over-react and to give the groups more credibility than they deserve. They are indeed small in number but that is what we were told almost 18 years ago when they bombed Omagh. We were told then that there would be no hiding place and that these groups would be harried and hunted until they were put out of business.

“Almost two decades later we have a situation where in addition to carrying out murders in Northern Ireland, they now pose a “substantial” threat level in Great Britain. We must ensure that the security forces have access to sufficient personnel and resources to not only meet the terrorist threat, but to defeat it.”