The former leader of the H-Block hunger-strikers, Mr Brendan McFarlane, was still being held late last night in Dundalk Garda station. He was arrested in Dundalk, Co Louth, on Monday for questioning about firearms offences in 1983 connected with the kidnapping of the businessman Mr Don Tidey.
Mr McFarlane (47), originally from Belfast, was detained by gardai on the main Dundalk-Newry road. He was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, which allows for 48-hour detention. He will have to be released or charged before noon today.