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LAST UPDATE | 11 Mar
GARDAÍ HAVE ARRESTED two men as searches have been carried out of countryside near Cork city in a major operation targeting suspected dissident republicans.
The operation in the Carrignavar area, which is to the north of Cork city involved a large number of gardaí.
Sources believe the men are linked to the activities of dissidents in Cork – one theory being explored by gardaí is that they are linked to the Real IRA.
The men have been detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and can be held for a maximum of three days.
A garda statement confirmed the operation and arrest of the two men.
They said the operation began yesterday evening and involved gardaí from the Crime Special Branch in Cork – which deals with terrorist activities. They were backed up by the Armed Support Unit.
“An area of forest and adjoining lands was subject of a follow up search when the second male was stopped and arrested.
“During the course of today follow up searches were carried out at 8 domestic residences across Cork City. Gardaí attached to Cork City and Cork County Divisions have today been supported by the Special Detective Unit, Garda Dog Unit and Garda Air Support Unit,” a spokeswoman said.
As previously reported by The Journal the Real IRA gang operate on the northside of Cork city and have been suspected by gardaí to be involved in a lucrative fundraising method by forcing drug dealers in the city to pay protection money.
The small dissident group is led by a man based in the city and backed up by long-time Republican activists.
Sources have also said that the group has killed previously with suspicions that two members who act as enforcers for the gang’s leader are suspects for the murder of their one-time colleague Aidan “The Beast” O’Driscoll in 2016.
The Real IRA was formed in 1997 by hardliners opposed to the Provisional IRA ceasefire and the subsequent Good Friday Agreement.
Some of the members of the Real IRA and other groupings have refused to join forces with other dissidents and have continued to operate under their previous groupings.
It is believed that the Cork activities are part of a Real IRA faction that refused to amalgamate into the new organisation.
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