GARDAÍ BELIEVE they have uncovered an extortion racket in the midlands in which a criminal gang has been making pipe bombs and using them to threaten a businessman.
The investigation is centred on Edgeworthstown in Co Longford.
Three suspects were arrested yesterday in connection with two pipe bomb attacks earlier in the year in the area.
Gardaí are investigating if the suspects now in custody were in any way linked to a pipe bomb seizure in Co Longford last year when eight devices were found.
It is believed they were about to be sold to one of the feuding Limerick gangs.
In the latest operation, gardaí in Longford and Dublin arrested three men yesterday morning.
Two suspects, a father and son, arrested in Co Longford were detained at an address in Edgeworthstown.
The third man was arrested at a halting site in Coolock, north Dublin.
The suspects, in their 20s, 40s and 60s, are being held at Roscommon and Longford Garda stations.
They are being questioned under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, and can be held for up to 72 hours without charge.
The men are being questioned about the discovery of a viable pipe bomb and hoax device at the same house in Co Longford on separate dates in February and April of this year.
On February 6th, gardaí closed the main Edgeworthstown to Longford road after a viable pipe bomb was found hanging on the gatepost of the house on the road at Lisfarrell, just outside Edgeworthstown.
The Army’s bomb disposal team was called in and carried out a controlled explosion on the device.
Another device, which was found to be a hoax, was left in the same position at the same property on April 18th.
On that occasion windows had been broken at the house and an attempt had been made to burn it down. The property was vacant at the time. Gardaí believe the man who owns the house in Lisfarrell, who has extensive business interests in the area, was being targeted by local criminal elements in a possible extortion bid.
While the area has been the scene of regular outbreaks of Traveller feuding in recent years and the men arrested yesterday are Travellers, gardaí do not believe the attacks on the Lisfarrell house were feud related.
Gardaí investigating the case are also trying to establish if there are any links between the three arrested men and the discovery of eight viable pipe bombs in Co Longford in July of last year.
The find was made at a newlly built house at Knockanboy, on the Lanesboro Road, near Longford town.
Gardaí believe those devices were about to be sold to a Limerick gang.
The devices, all of which contained explosive material, had been constructed elsewhere and were being stored at the house ahead of being handed over to the Limerick criminals.