Five men remain in custody in Co. Louth this morning after the discovery of a suspect device near the border. Gardai believe they may have foiled a major incident being planned by a dissident republican group.

This is part of on-going investigations into the activities of dissident republicans, and gardai carried out an operation just south of the border, in the Kilcurry area of Co. Louth, yesterday evening.

Five men ranging in age from their mid-50s to their early-70s were arrested.

They are being held at Drogheda and Dundalk garda stations under the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

A suspect device was recovered during the operation.

It will be examined by the Defence Forces Explosive Ordinances Disposal unit.