Computers have been seized during five searches in Ireland linked to an operation to smash a global paedophile ring, gardaí said today.

An Italian-led operation against a suspected international child pornography ring led to raids on 40 houses in Italy, Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland today.

European police have raided 150 addresses in 13 countries, including the UK, in a co-ordinated operation against a major child pornography ring, Europol said today.