Ireland

Five arrested over death of former Real IRA boss Aidan O'Driscoll

Detectives are investigating if Aidan O'Driscoll's death is related to a feud in dissident republicanism
Detectives are investigating if Aidan O'Driscoll's death is related to a feud in dissident republicanism Detectives are investigating if Aidan O'Driscoll's death is related to a feud in dissident republicanism

Four men and one woman have been arrested over the murder of a former Real IRA boss in Cork before Christmas.

Aidan O'Driscoll (37) was shot a number of times in an ambush in the Blackpool area of the city on December 7.

Detectives were investigating if he was the victim of a feud within dissident republicanism.

Investigating gardai said they have arrested three men aged in their 20s, who are being held under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act at Mayfield, Gurranabraher and Bridewell Garda stations.

A man aged in his 70s and a woman in her 20s are also being held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Togher Garda station.

They are the first arrests in the investigation, a Garda spokesman said.

Mr O'Driscoll, from Ballyvolane in north Cork, was shot dead on Old Commons Road.

Nicknamed the "Beast", he was a one-time ally of Real IRA chief Alan Ryan, who was shot dead in Dublin in 2012.

It is understood he had not been active in the terror group for some time, having apparently been expelled.

He was shot in the leg in a so-called punishment attack carried out by former republican allies in 2013.