GARDAI are questioning three men about the armed robbery in south Dublin last week in which an INLA member was shot dead during a confrontation with detectives. Personal security for a number of officers has been stepped up as a result of threats made by the republican organisation, which is believed to have established a unit in southwest Dublin in the past year.
Three men, two from Tallaght and one from Dundrum, were arrested early yesterday under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act which allows their detention for questioning without charge for 48 hours. The men were arrested by gardai investigating the robbery at the Newspread offices in Goldenbridge, during which John Morris (26) died and £900 was taken after the INLA group threatened staff with handguns.
Morris was given a paramilitary funeral on Monday after the INLA issued a statement containing a veiled threat to gardai.
Meanwhile five people were still being questioned in Dundalk last night in connection with serious crime in the area, following the discovery of a number of weapons. Ten people were arrested in Dundalk under the Offences Against the State Act on Wednesday and detained for questioning. During a search by gardai, two rifles, one shotgun, one pistol and a quantity of ammunition were recovered. Counterfeit money and stolen property were also found.
Five people were released yesterday and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
