Gardaí in Cork are continuing to question a man in his 30s - believed to be a former politician - over an alleged attempt to hire a hitman.

It's understood the man, who was arrested yesterday morning and brought to Gurranebraher garda station, is being questioned about an alleged plot to kill a garda, a revenue official and an accountant in Cork.

The three potential victims had reportedly been looking into the man's business affairs.

It's thought the man he approached about the assassination attempts informed gardaí, who set up an undercover operation that led to his arrest.

The man, who is in his 30s, is being questioned under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act and he can be held for up to seven days.