Dissidents steal trucks worth €240k

THE SON of one of Ireland’s most notorious terrorists was among six dissident republicans arrested after they stole €60,000 worth of alcohol and two articulated trucks, valued at €240,000.

The Real IRA gang robbed the loaded trucks in Dublin and were heading for the border when gardaí, who were monitoring their activities, intercepted them.

All six men are aged in their 30s. Three are from the North — two from Derry and one from Tyrone. The remaining three are from the Republic — two from Westmeath and one from Galway.

The gang appears to have conducted surveillance or had inside information about the operation of a transport company in Dublin, from where they stole the trucks and alcohol.

They entered the company’s premises in Rathcoole, west Dublin, at about 8pm on Sunday.

They stole two articulated trucks and trailers, each fully loaded with a wide range of alcohol. The trailers had been stocked, ready for delivery on Monday morning.

Some time after the heist, the gang headed for the border. At 11pm, near the M1 toll bridge at Drogheda, the armed Emergency Response Unit, along with gardaí from the Louth-Meath Division stopped the first truck.

They arrested three men, all from the North, inside the cab and discovered alcohol inside the trailer.

The men were arrested under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act.

It is understood the other three men, who were in the second cab, were alerted by their colleagues and pulled over.

They dumped the trailer and drove the cab off the motorway, away from the Garda checkpoint.

Gardaí located the second trailer and a search was carried out for the cab. These men were tracked down to Delvin, where two of the men had addresses.

These two and another man were arrested and detained. The cab was found burnt out.

One of the men is the son of a deceased republican terrorist who claimed to be a multiple killer. He was a senior figure in the Provisional IRA.

The son has previously been spotted at anti-Shell protests in Corrib, north Mayo. In recent years, he has sided with dissident republican groups.

Each of the two trailers had alcohol worth in the region of €30,000. In addition, sources valued the two articulated cabs and trailers at about €120,000 each.

In addition to the robbery charge, gardaí are examining recommending to the Director of Public Prosecutions charges of membership of an illegal organisation.

All six can be held for two days and, on application to the courts, for a final 24 hours.