18/02/2005

Two Derry men arrested during Gardai raids

Two of the seven men arrested in the Republic of Ireland yesterday in connection with the recovery of £3.2 million, are from Londonderry it has been confirmed.

The men were arrested during swoops in Cork and Dublin by Gardai in relation to alleged paramilitary funding and money laundering.

During the searches £60,000 in Northern Bank notes recovered by police however it is unclear if the find is connected to the Northern Bank robbery in Belfast last December.

Last night PSNI officers took part in raids on houses in Londonderry that are being linked with recent operations in the Republic. Police came under attack from stone throwers during searches and one officer was treated for concussion after he was struck on the head.

The seven suspects arrested yesterday are being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, and can be held for 72 hours before they are charged or released.

Earlier this month the International Monitoring Commission (IMC) said the IRA was behind the £26.5 million Northern Bank heist and that senior members of Sinn Fein had sanctioned the raid.

In it’s fourth report, specially published as a result of the raid, the IMC said that while Sinn Fein continually said it was opposed to criminality of any kind “it appeared at times to have its own definition of what constitutes a crime”.

The IRA has denied any involvement in the raid while Sinn Fein maintains it believes the republican group's statement.

(MB/SP)

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