Garda killer Adrian Crevan Mackin had been involved in reactivating decommissioned handguns which he was supplying to criminal gangs and terrorists.

The 24-year-old, who murdered Garda Tony Golden and left his former partner fighting for her life, had been ordering weapons from the United States over the internet which he received by post.

Separately, he was also buying parts for handguns online which he then used to reactivate the replicas as lethal weapons.

The Irish Independent can reveal that the Garda Special Branch searched Crevan Mackin's house in Omeath in January after being tipped off by US authorities.

There is a legal and well-established international trade in guns made safe by having parts removed or replaced with non-functioning parts.

He was already well-known to gardaí and the PSNI for his involvement in a breakaway faction of the Real IRA and had been spotted regularly in the company of "major players".

When officers searched the house they found two of the re-purposed guns and components for bomb-making but there was not enough evidence to prefer a charge for possession of the items.

Crevan Mackin was charged with membership of the IRA and was on bail when he murdered Gda Golden and shot Siobhán Phillips before turning the gun on himself.

Threatened

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that the terror suspect had threatened the lives of two female officials from social services in Northern Ireland who were investigating him for domestic abuse.

Two years ago, PSNI officers found extreme pornographic images featuring bestiality on Crevan Mackin's phone when he was arrested for a previous assault on Ms Phillips.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The Book of Condolences for the late Garda Anthony Golden at Dundalk Garda Station, Co. Louth. Photo: Caroline Quinn An Irish flag flies at half mast at Dundalk Garda Station, in honour of the late Garda Anthony Golden. Photo: Caroline Quinn Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan at Dundalk Garda Station for a mass after the murder of Garda Anthony Golden. Pic:Mark Condren 13.10.2015 Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan at Dundalk Garda Station for a mass after the murder of Garda Anthony Golden. Pic:Mark Condren 13.10.2015 People arrive at Dundalk Garda Station for a mass after the murder of Garda Anthony Golden. Pic:Mark Condren 13.10.2015 Archdeacon of Dublin David Pierpoint arriving at Dundalk Garda Station for a mass after the murder of Garda Anthony Golden. Pic:Mark Condren 13.10.2015 Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan at Dundalk Garda Station for a mass after the murder of Garda Anthony Golden. Pic:Mark Condren 13.10.2015 The scene of the shooting in Omeath, Co Louth Steve Humphreys Flowers are left at the scene of the shooting of Garda Tony Golden in Omeath Steve Humphreys Gardai at the estate entrance at the scene of the fatal shooting involving Garda Tony Golden at Mullach Alainn housing estate in Omeath Co Louth. Pic Steve Humphreys 12th October 2015. Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan at Dundalk Garda Station during a press conference on the death of Garda Tony Golden Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan at the scene of the shooting of Gda Tony Golden in Omeath, Co Louth Steve Humphreys Flowers are left at Omeath Garda Station Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Tony Golden was the 88th member of the force to be killed in the line of duty Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan at the scene of the fatal shooting in Omeath Co Louth. Pic Steve Humphreys 12th October 2015. / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Book of Condolences for the late Garda Anthony Golden at Dundalk Garda Station, Co. Louth. Photo: Caroline Quinn

He was subsequently convicted for the images and given a suspended sentence in Newry.

Ms Phillips had suffered severe physical abuse and was living in fear. Last Friday night she had been subjected to a prolonged overnight attack during which he threatened to kill her and her entire family.

Her family reported the incident to gardaí on Saturday and on Sunday afternoon she went with her father, Sean, to Omeath Garda station where she gave a statement to Gda Golden.

Gda Golden escorted Siobhán to the house so that she could collect her things and return to her family home.

Thousands of mourners are expected at today's State funeral at Blackrock, Co Louth, today.

The Church has seats for just 300 people which will be reserved for family members and the official dignitaries. Gardaí are closing roads into the village from 10am until after 2pm.

Meanwhile, it emerged that the number of gardaí policing border towns in Co Louth has decreased by around 75pc since 2000. Figures obtained by the Irish Independent show that there has been a decrease of between 60pc and 80pc in several garda stations.

They include Omeath, Dromad, Hackballscross as well as the district headquarters in Dundalk.

All three of the sub stations originally consisted of two garda sergeants, as well 12 gardaí, but this has since dropped significantly.

Irish Independent