Huge paramilitary gun cache found

The huge stash was uncovered when police went to investigate the death of Billy "Black Neck" Bell.

It is understood the guns and thousands of bullets had been hidden all over the terraced house at Ballysillan Drive in north Belfast. Details emerged hours before Bell's funeral.

Other weapons were found in locked premises. It is understood the arms, including a hand gun and rifles, were linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

Bell, aged in his 50s, was a weapons expert who could turn replica guns into firing weapons.

It is believed he was also involved in a paintballing operation.

A statement by police in the city said: "A substantial amount of guns and ammunition were discovered as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a man in the north of the city at the weekend.

"During a follow-up search of the man's house, more than 70 suspected guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition were discovered. All have been removed for forensic examination. A further small number of suspected firearms were also found in lock-up premises in the greater Belfast area."

Those ballistic tests will determine whether the weapons have been used in paramilitary attacks.

In May last year, the UVF effectively declared an end to its campaign of violence by announcing the organisation was adopting a non-military and civilian role. Recruitment, military training and targeting had ceased, intelligence rendered obsolete and all guns "put beyond reach".