Two men in their 40s who were arrested in Dublin last night remain in garda custody this evening.

At around 9:30pm, gardaí were called to the scene of an incident on Clare Road off Griffith Avenue.

It was reported a number of men wearing balaclavas had been seen acting suspiciously at the back of a house.

Gardaí arrested a man and recovered what is described as a replica firearm during a follow up search in the grounds of a church nearby.

A balaclava and gloves were also recovered.

A second man was arrested and a car, using false registration plates, was seized by gardaí near the scene.

The two men are being held under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act at Ballymun garda station.

Originally posted at 13.06