GARDAI are questioning three men, one associated with the IRA, after an attempted incendiary attack on a flat belonging to a woman drug addict in north inner city Dublin. The men were taken to Garda stations in north Dublin after Sinn Fein supporters and anti drugs activists picketed Fitzgibbon Street Garda station after the arrests.
A Sinn Fein councillor for the area, Mr Christy Burke, last night condemned the arrests. He said there was "anger and disbelief among anti drugs activists throughout the city". He accused the gardai of "assaults, arrests and harassment of anti drugs activists". Local gardai say there is a concerted campaign, led by figures associated with the IRA, to turn the population of the north inner city against them. One officer said parts of the north inner city were now "no go areas" for the gardai.
Officers also say that IRA figures from Belfast have been helping to undermine support for the Garda.