Nine arrested as Gardai investigate dissident activities

Ongoing investigations by Gardai into dissident republican activity in the Republic of Ireland have resulted in the arrests of nine men.

The men, who are said to be from counties Clare, Kildare, Limerick and Tipperary, were detained at a house in the north of Limerick city on Monday evening.

A Guarda spokesperson confirmed that the men had been arrested as part of “ongoing investigations” into the activities of dissident republican organisations.

Reports indicate that the men are being questioned about the activities of the so-called “Continuity IRA”.

Under Irish law the nine men can be held for up to 24 hours, before an application must be made to allow them to be held for longer.

The arrests come in the aftermath of a warning by Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid warning of a possible campaign by dissident republicans in the run-up to Christmas.

Garda recently discovered what was described as a “training camp” in County Kildare in the Irish Republic.

Police and Customs officers on both side of the border have recently intercepted substantial quantities of contraband goods, which are thought to have been a result of smuggling operations mounted by dissident republican elements. (SP)