Arms found at PUP offices

The weapons haul found at the PUP's Ballymoney offices

The loyalist Progressive Unionist Party has admitted it has been damaged by the discovery of guns in its offices in Ballymoney, County Antrim.

Police officers seized a powerful machine gun and a rifle fitted with telescopic sights and silencer in a raid on the offices of the party on Wednesday morning.

The haul also included a booby-trap device, a stun gun, three replica weapons, a large quantity of ammunition, military-style clothing and baseball bats.

The PUP has links to the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando, two banned loyalist paramilitary groups.

David Ervine: "It looks as if we have let people down"

A spokesman for the Royal Ulster Constabulary said forensic scientists were examining the scene in Edward Street, but no arrests had been made.

He said the community would be pleased with the discovery of what he called "weapons of destruction".

East Belfast PUP assemblyman David Ervine expressed his concern at the find.

The party's main spokesman said: "We as a party have a responsibility, and it looks as if we have let people down.

"We are holding our hands up. There was no excuse for this and the significance will not be lost on us.

"We are blaming nobody else. The responsibility for this office is the responsibility of the PUP.

"It's very damaging. We've launched a series of questions and demanded answers, but the damage has been done as far as our credibility is concerned. What else is there to say?

"Obviously we'll now assess the status of the office in question and the details of this arms find."

Widespread condemnation

The Democratic Unionist Party's assemblyman, Ian Paisley Jnr, said the find raised serious questions about the party.

"People will be very concerned about this.

"I think they will first of all welcome the fact that the police have done an excellent job in uncovering this.

Ian Paisley Jnr: worrying find

"But there'll be concern that an organisation that proclaims itself to be solely political and only in an advisory role to paramilitaries is now linked very tangibly with weapons of war and weapons of death."

Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly described the weapons find as "very worrying".

"They were obviously UVF weapons and the PUP needs to explain why they where in their offices", he said.

The PUP supports the Good Friday Agreement, but it dislikes what it sees as too many concessions to republicans during the peace process.

PUP member Billy Hutchinson was elected, along with David Ervine, to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is currently in suspension.