Gardaí quiz seven dissident republican suspects

SEVEN men are still being questioned by gardaí investigating the activities of dissident republicans.

The seven, aged between 20 and 50, are being questioned at stations in Cork and Limerick and can be held for up to 72 hours under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. They are suspected of having links to the Real IRA.

The arrests were made early yesterday following simultaneous raids on a number of houses in the northside of Cork city and Limerick city. Five were taken into custody in Cork and two in Limerick.

Members of the Garda Special Detective Unit backed up by members from local stations were involved in the operation, which was described as part of an ongoing one against the activities of dissident republicans.

While the gardaí have apprehended a number of suspected dissident republicans in the Munster area over the last year, most of thosearrested were suspected of being attached to the Continuity IRA.

However, a political source within the republican movement said those picked up yesterday are believed to be suspected of involvement in the Real IRA.