Islamic State terrorism: Radicalisation and fighters returning to Ireland are our biggest threat

The risk of an attack here is low but we cannot let our guard down, says Cormac O’Keeffe

In an area shrouded in secrecy, scraps of information and a lack of independent experts, questions have been raised about the threat to Ireland from so-called Islamic terrorism and how the gardaí are tackling it.

A range of security sources who spoke to the Irish Examiner this week agree the direct threat is low. But they do highlight some dangers and the challenges of intelligence work.