Nine held in terrorism group probe

Gardai have arrested nine men in connection with membership of a dissident Republican terrorist group, police said today.

Gardai have arrested nine men in connection with membership of a dissident Republican terrorist group.

The men were arrested in the north of Limerick city last night, a garda spokesman said.

Security sources said the men were being questioned over allegations of membership of the Continuity IRA.

The men were from counties Clare, Tipperary, Kildare and Limerick and were arrested during a meeting at a house in the city, sources said.

A garda spokesman said: ‘‘The men were arrested as part of our on-going investigations into dissident Republican organisations.’’

They can be held for 24 hours before being released unless an application to have them detained for a longer period is granted by a senior officer, he added.