Bernard Huston's wife thought he was making up an excuse to get out of gardening when he told Aoife he had discovered a live grenade while digging their garden.

"She told me to stop coming up with stupid excuses and not to be so lazy and finish the garden," Bernard says.

"I had to bring her out and show her and she soon believed me then."

Bernard came across the explosive device, which at first he mistook for a stone, on the morning of Saturday last while digging up an old hedge in his garden.

"I wasn't sure what it was but when I tossed it with the spade I knew straight away it was a hand grenade. The pin was still in the top of it."

His nine-year-old stepson, Kevin, was helping him at the time.

Kevin contacted Gardaí and residents were evacuated from neighbouring houses.

Detectives soon arrived at Glencar Park and cordoned off the entire estate.

Members of the Explosives Ordnance Disposal Team took the live grenade away in a specially constructed explosive-proof chest that evening.

Gardaí don't know how the grenade ended up being buried in the garden.

Kevin, meanwhile, was happy to return to his gardening this morning.

"I have sunburn form standing around all day on Saturday waiting to get back into my house.

"I'm just delighted to get back and to be able to finish the garden off in this lovely weather.

"Sure what's the chance of finding another live hand grenade in your garden?"

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HT: Irish Mirror