The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was last night weighing up whether there is enough evidence to give the green light to charge returned alleged Islamic State supporter Lisa Smith.

Intelligence gathered by foreign security services on returned Islamic State supporter Lisa Smith is a key part of evidence being put to the Dundalk woman in questioning.

Anti-terrorism chiefs in the North have welcomed the arrest by Gardaí of two suspected dissident republicans in connection with an attempt to murder a PSNI officer last June.

A specialist Garda unit tasked with assessing intelligence on the financing of terrorism only has two members attached to it, despite external calls on the State to boost its resources and “more actively” pursue prosecutions.

An estimated €250,000 in cash that was seized as part of an Irish-Australian police operation into drug trafficking was found literally stuffed inside the mattress of a bed.