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by Inishowen Independent
SEVEN men arrested in
Bridgend in two related Garda operations against
republican paramilitaries remained in custody last
night. The arrests were described as being part of
ongoing investigations into paramilitary activity
and the men were arrested under Section 30 of the
Offences Against the State Act.
The men, aged between 30 and 48, are being held at
Garda stations in Letterkenny (2), Milford (2),
Ballyshannon, Sligo and Manorhamilton in County
Leitrim. The men can be held for up to 72 hours
without charge. Four BBC journalists arrested as
part of the operations were released without charge
yesterday.
Gardaí remained tight-lipped refusing to confirm
anything but the most basic facts. However,
eyewitnesses told the 'Inishowen Independent' that
the first seven arrests were made at the gates of St
Aengus’ National School in Bridgend shortly after
11pm on Saturday night. The four BBC journalists are
believed to have been among those arrested at the
scene.
A white transit van in which the men were believed
to have been travelling was rammed by an unmarked
Garda car and armed Gardaí were on hand to make the
arrests. The Bonnemaine road was closed for a short
period. The operation ended shortly after 1am with
the removal of the damaged vehicles.
A further four men were arrested on the N13 at a
filling station in Bridgend on Sunday afternoon.
They are among the seven men that remained in
custody last night. Two Northern registered cars
were also removed from pubs in the village in a
follow up operation.. |
