Don Bullman, a former Sinn Fein election worker from Cork, was arrested and charged with IRA membership.

During a bail hearing, a detective claimed Bullman was "central" in an IRA money-laundering operation. Bullman is denying the charges. Two men from Derry, who were in the vehicle, were also arrested but were later released.

The day after Bullman's arrest, gardai found £2.4m in holdall bags in the basement of a bungalow in Farran, Co Cork, owned by money-lender Ted Cunningham. It is understood the money was linked to the Northern Bank heist. Cunningham was arrested but released without charge.

Phil Flynn, former adviser to the Taoiseach and former Sinn Fein member, was a director of Cunningham's company, Chesterton Finance. Undercover gardai had previously observed the pair travelling to Bulgaria. Security sources claimed the IRA was attempting to buy property and a bank in Bulgaria.

Flynn and Cunningham insisted their trip was for legitimate business reasons.