Gardaí have searched 14 addresses around the country for evidence of child abuse material.

Investigators said they seized “digital material” at each of the homes.

A “childlike sex doll” was also uncovered at one of the locations.

The searches also uncovered child protection concerns and investigators are liaising with the Child and Family Agency Tusla.

The searches were carried out as part of Operation Ketch – which targets people suspecting of possessing, importing and distributing child abuse images and videos.

The latest batch of searches has been underway since Monday of this week.

Half were carried out in Dublin, with two in Cork, two in Waterford, one in Meath, one in Monaghan and one in Galway.

Gardaí said follow-up searches will be carried out in the coming days and arrests are expected as the individual investigations progress.

In a statement, Gardaí said: “An Garda Síochána wishes to reassure the community, through operations such as this and other ongoing work by the Online Child Exploitation Unit, that we will relentlessly pursue those involved in the possession, importation and distribution of child abuse material.”

The searches were carried out by local Garda Protection Service Units and detective units.

Nearly 140 addresses by searched under Operation Ketch last year – and 72 have been searched so far this year.