Two due in court after seizure of replica firearm

Two men are due in court in Dublin today after a replica gun was found outside a church.

Gardaí were called to Clare Road off Griffith Avenue on Friday night, after a member of the public reported suspicious activity at the rear of a house.

It is believed he had spotted a group of men wearing balaclavas.

One man was arrested when a car with false registration plates was stopped and another man was found hiding nearby.

Follow-up searches saw detectives seize a replica firearm, a balaclava and gloves.

The two men - both in their 40s - will come before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street at 10.30am this morning.