Criminals associated with "republican subversives" have been involved in the hi-jackings of lorry containers from Dublin Port, a senior garda said today.
He said comments by the Minister for Justice that individuals associated with Sinn Fein were involved in organised crime at Dublin Port probably referred to a series of thefts primarily of cigarettes, alcohol and chocolates from containers.
In many of these cases where people had been questioned or charged the garda source said those arrested had an association with subversives based in the Republic.
He said some of the gangs involved contained a mixture of subversive and non-subversives.
In some incidences the gangs involved had a degree of insider information having obtained information from former workers at the port - this would allow them to target shipments from particular companies or of specific products, according to the source.
He added the overall level of crime at Dublin Port every year was relatively small and that security measures at the port had been increased.