GARDAÍ WERE last night continuing to question five men who were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to supply mortars for attacks on the security services in the North by dissident republicans.
They believe the arrested men are linked to the dissident republican group that calls itself Óglaigh na hÉireann.
Of the five arrested, two are regarded as the leading figures of the group. However, none of the five are known for involvement in terrorist activities.
The arrests followed a Garda raid on a farmyard on Wednesday morning at Quinnsboro outside Monasterevin, Co Kildare.
Gardaí found what they believe to be mortar tubes and mortar components at the site.
Detectives are working on the theory that two truck containers at the rented yard were being used to make the mortars, which would likely have been finished at another location, in Co Louth, before being used for an attack on the security services in the North.
The first two arrests were made near the scene of the find while another man was arrested at a property in Monasterevin.
Another two men, from Tullamore, were arrested later.
The arrests followed a surveillance operation on the men that had been in place since another mortar find, in Co Louth, in recent months.
The arrested men, aged between 20 and 50, were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
The men were being questioned last night at Garda stations in Tullamore, Newbridge and Naas.
