An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Gardaí have launched an investigation into an incident in Dublin city centre on Tuesday, when a fully loaded submachine gun was discovered by a member of the public after falling out of a Garda patrol car from the emergency response unit (ERU). The machine gun, which was fully loaded and contained in an official carrier bag, was discovered by a member of the public and handed into Store Street Garda station at approximately 6pm on Tuesday evening. It is believed that the machine gun fell out of the boot of an armed Garda response unit, an Audi Q7, after the boot opened when the car went over a ramp. In a statement, Gardaí said: A senior Garda officer has been appointed to examine all the circumstances surrounding an incident involving an armed Garda unit in Dublin city centre.” The unit concerned, Gardaí say, are involved in ongoing operations in the Dublin Region targeting organised criminal activity and were not part of the security detail attached to the Royal Visit. Garda officers who were in the car at the time are said to have seen the gun picked up by a member of the public, who had left the scene by the time the Garda patrol car had pulled over. It is believed that the gun had not been fired and that all ammunition was accounted for.