A SERVING soldier is at the centre of a Garda investigation into handling illegal firearms, it has emerged.
In a separate, unrelated development The Irish Timeshas also learned that organised crime gangs have approached soldiers on at least five occasions and offered them money for their assistance in carrying out armed crimes.
The military authorities have received five reports in recent years from the personnel in question. The criminals were seeking to use the soldiers' training in handling firearms and explosives in the commission of serious crime.
All of the cases, which mostly took place in Dublin and Limerick, were reported to the Garda and the criminals involved were put under surveillance.
Informed sources said the cases underlined the pressure that can be put on Defence Forces personnel, adding that many more approaches from organised crime gangs had probably gone unreported for fear of reprisals.
The suspect in the latest case, a young Army private from southwest Dublin, was arrested on Tuesday under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
He was taken to a south Dublin Garda station where he was questioned about his alleged links to the handling of illegal firearms. Gardaí suspect he may be associated with people involved in organised crime.
The arrest of the soldier in relation to his alleged role in gun crime is believed to be the first such case involving a member of the Defence Forces in 12 years. In 1996 former soldier Charles Bowden was arrested after the murder of Veronica Guerin.
It emerged he used his military training to clean and store weapons for the John Gilligan gang.
He entered the witness protection programme and gave incriminating evidence against other members of the gang. In the course of one of the trials, evidence was heard that Bowden loaded the gun used to shoot Ms Guerin.
While the soldier arrested on Tuesday was being questioned about his alleged role in gun crime, gardaí established that Dublin District Court had already issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He had been arrested earlier this year in relation to a drink-driving offence in the south inner city.
However, he did not appear at a subsequent scheduled court appearance and a bench warrant was issued. After his arrest on Tuesday for questioning about the alleged weapons offences, gardaí executed the drink-driving bench warrant and brought him before Dublin District Court on Wednesday morning.
He was released on bail after a brief court appearance and will appear before the courts at a later date in relation to the drink-driving offence.
On leaving the court he was detained by the Army and taken to the barracks in Dublin where he is normally based.
He remained detained at the barracks last night in closed service custody awaiting a military investigative hearing into why he has been absent without official leave for the past two months. That hearing is expected to take place in coming days and may result in a full court martial.
The suspect was released without charge from his period of arrest. The Garda inquiry into his alleged illegal activities is continuing.