Four 'Real IRA' suspects held after Cork attack

Gardaí in Cork arrested four men after an attack on a house in an estate in the Little Island area of the county last night.

The four were arrested and are being held under suspicion of being members of an illegal organisation after a van packed with petrol barrels was set alight outside the house shortly before midnight.

The van burst into flames and houses in the Little Island area had to be evacuated as two fire crews fought to keep the fire under control.

One man, in his 20s who, it is understood, is known to the gardaí, was in the house at the time of the attack.

No-one was injured and gardai  made two arrests at the scene and two others a short time later.

The arrests are thought to be part of an investigation into the activities of dissident republicans in the area.

The men are being held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Togher and Mayfield garda stations in the city. They can be held for questioning for up to 72 hours.