Gardai find semtex following swoop on nine New IRA suspects in Dublin
GARDAI have uncovered a significant semtex haul today as part of follow-up searches targeting dissident republican activity in Dublin.
The discovery comes a day after gardai arrested nine people and uncovered explosive material in raids on Wednesday.
Eight people were arrested following a raid on a house in Tallaght where a meeting of dissidents linked to the New IRA was taking place last night.
Gardai arrested a 46-year-old man after searching a number of containers at a yard in Cloghran, Co. Dublin. They discovered a quantity of ammunition and component parts of explosive substances during the raid around 4pm on Wednesday.
Follow up searches today uncovered what sources describe as a "significant" amount of semtex. "This is a big haul which had the potential to cause a lot of damage and will be a significant blow against dissidents," said one source. Semtex is a plastic explosive which was favoured by the Provisional IRA. The Real IRA took large quantities of the explosive when it broke away from the Provos in the 1990s. The RIRA has since merged with other republicans to form what is called the New IRA.
The arrested man, who was a former associate of slain terror boss Alan Ryan, is being held at Ballymun Garda Station. He is linked to the 32 County Sovereignty Movement. A further eight people were arrested in Tallaght on Wednesday night.
Gardai believe the eight men arrested during a search of a house in Glenshane Crecent were attending a meeting linked to the terror group. It is believed they were discussing fundraising campaigns for the movement as well as a punishment shooting of a former associate.
Some of the men arrested have been arrested in previous operations against dissidents in the capital and had been barred from associating with each other as part of their bail conditions.
They range in age form their mid-20s to 40s and are being held at several stations in the west of the city. It is understood at least three of those arrested are from the Tallaght area while others are from the northside of the city.
The group has been in disarray in recent months after many former associates of Alan Ryan were expelled from the organisation. They include Fat Deccy Smith and Nathan Kinsella and Aidan O’Driscoll who were shot in punishment attacks in recent months.
There have been several meetings of dissidents in recent days as the new leadership decides who will remain in the organisation and who will be kicked out.
Ryan’s brother Dermot took part in protests outside the Dail yesterday with fellow members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement.
