Gardai question Real IRA suspects

Two men with suspected Real IRA terrorist group links were still being questioned by gardai today following their arrest on Thursday night in Limerick.

The pair, believed to be senior figures in the outlawed paramilitary faction behind the 1998 bombing of Omagh, Co Tyrone, when 29 people were killed and more than 200 injured, were in a car stopped during a surveillance operation.

A number of items were found in the car, which was has been examined by ballistic experts.

The men, aged 33 and 35, and both from Limerick, were afterwards detained on suspicion of possessing firearms and were being questioned early today at a Limerick garda station.

Under the terms of anti-terrorist legislation they can be kept in custody until tomorrow before being either charged or released.