The father of Celtic player Anthony Stokes is understood to be one of three people who have been arrested in the Republic of Ireland on suspicion of possessing firearms.
Two men, aged 54 and 46, and a 55-year-old woman are being held after ammunition was taken from the back of John Stokes' pub, the Players Lounge, in the city's Fairview district. The trio are being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. They are being questioned at Store Street, Bridewell and Whitehall Garda stations.
Garda officers raided the pub at around 10am on Friday as part of an operation targeting dissident republican and organised criminal activity in the Irish capital. A handful of bullets found in a shed at the back of the pub have been taken away for ballistic tests. It understood Mr Stokes, 54, was arrested at the scene.
Cocaine with a street value of about 500 euro was also recovered during searches this morning.
A number of private houses were also searched in the Donaghmede area in a crackdown involving more than 100 officers, including the force's special detective unit. It is understood the raids are linked to an investigation into a long-running turf war between the so-called Real IRA and drugs gangs.
The bitter rivals are battling for supremacy in a protection racket targeting pubs and clubs. Last month, a judge ordered Mr Stokes to remove a 40ft anti-Queen banner ahead of the monarch’s visit to Ireland.
Old Firm cup final
He also made the headlines when he discussed the omission of his son in Celtic’s Cooperative Insurance Cup final defeat to arch rivals Rangers.
He told the Scottish Sun: "It is crazy Anthony didn't play when he is Celtic's top scorer. Neil Lennon needs to understand that. He isn't going to be at Celtic if he isn't going to play against Rangers or in the big games. My advice to him is to move from Celtic and put in an immediate transfer request. I think he will because he has told me he wants out."
Mr Stokes later denied the reports to Irish radio station 98FM. He stated: "Basically, it’s misquoted by the papers. I didn’t say that.
"I was asked by a journalist in the heat of the moment after they lost. I’m a big Celtic fan as everybody knows and Anthony is a big Celtic fan. I was asked my view at the end of the game by a particular Scottish journalist. I was completely misquoted and I never said he should leave Celtic so I don’t know where that story’s from.
Posts
