Gardaí search Cork woodland for suspected weapons cache after arrest of two men

Gardaí search a Cork woodland for a suspected weapons cache linked to dissident Republicans after two men were arrested

An isolated area of forestry outside Carrignavar, Co Cork, is being searched by Gardaí today

Gardaí have recovered “elaborate concealments” being manufactured in remote forest areas north of Cork city in a major operation targeting dissident republicans.

The concealments, or “hides”, are typically used by dissident groups to conceal explosives, weapons and ammunition.

It is understood that gardaí have not found any explosive material or firearms during their searches.

It came as a search took place in woodlands outside Cork City for a suspected weapons cache following the arrest of two men in Cork this morning.

The arrests and searches are part of garda investigations into organised crime and dissident Republicans operating in the Cork area.

The two men, aged in their 40s, were arrested in Cork early on Tuesday and have been detained in Cork Garda stations.

An isolated area of forestry outside Carrignavar, Co Cork, is being searched by gardaí.

The forest and adjoining lands were subject to a follow up search, which led to the second man being stopped and arrested.

During the course of this operation, follow up searches were carried out at eight domestic residences across Cork City. 

Gardaí attached to Cork City and Cork County Divisions were supported by the Special Detective Unit, Garda Dog Unit and Garda Air Support Unit.

"Items of evidential value have been recovered across the range of searches and operational activity which has taken place.

"Investigations are ongoing at this time," said a Garda spokesperson.

An Garda Síochána also said that it does not comment on ongoing operations but it is believed the operation was targeting the activities of the Real IRA, which continues to have a presence in the Cork region.

Throughout the North and much of the South, such as Louth and Dublin, the New IRA subsumed many of the Real IRA cells, together with other smaller dissident groupings.

The Real IRA in Cork has long operated as independent of much of the wider Real IRA and the subsequent New IRA, according the security sources.

Sources said that what was recovered from the searches, carried out in forest area between the villages of Carrignavar and Glenville, some 15 kilometres north of Cork city, appeared to be a manufacturing facility for “fairly elaborate concealments”.

These “hides” have been often seized before, on both sides of the border, and can be dug into the ground to store the likes of explosives, weapons and ammunition.