Two arrested in dissidents probe

Two men have been arrested after a suspected dissident republican bomb-making factory was uncovered in Co Louth.

The men, both aged in their 50s, were detained at a farm house in Hackballscross at lunchtime following searches of the property and outhouses.

The area has been sealed off pending a full examination by Army bomb disposal experts.

The suspects are being held at Balbriggan and Drogheda Garda stations under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

Gardaí attached to the Special Detective Unit, the Emergency Response Unit and Crime and Security were assisted by local units from the Louth-Meath division in the search and arrest operation.

It was part of an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activities in the area.