Gardaí arrest suspected dissidents after explosives find

GARDAÍ seized 500lbs of explosives and arrested six men near Dundalk yesterday in a crackdown on suspected dissident republicans.

Members of the Emergency Response Unit, the National Surveillance Unit and local gardaí carried out a search of a farm in the Iniskeen area between Dundalk and Carrickmacross. They discovered 500lbs of explosives along with several vehicles, which were believed to be assembled for a major bombing attack.

Four men were arrested and charged under the Offences against the State Act.

In follow-up searches in Dundalk, another two men were arrested. The men range in age from their early 20s to mid 40s and are being held at garda stations in Ashbourne, Co Meath and Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

Further searches are being conducted in the Border area in co-operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Gardaí believe one of the men is a leading member of the Real IRA. The operation has almost certainly prevented another attack by the group. The Louth/Armagh Border area is the Real IRA’s strongest base.

The organisation has been the subject of intense surveillance and there have been arrests of suspected members recently in Limerick and Cork.

Last April, three members of the Real IRA were convicted in London of plotting a bombing campaign in Britain.

The organisation has been heavily infiltrated by informers and many of its members are now in jail. Real IRA member Colm Murphy was jailed for 12 years for his role in the 1998 Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people.

Last October, the members behind bars announced the Real IRA was disbanding and said they were withdrawing support for the armed struggle. However, other members have continued subversive activities.