Two for court after replica gun found in church grounds

Two men, aged 42 and 43, will appear in court on Monday charged in connection with the discovery of a replica gun, gloves and a balaclava in the grounds of a church on Friday evening.

At about 9.30pm on Friday, gardaí were called to Clare Road off Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9, after a number of people wearing balaclavas were seen acting suspiciously at the rear of a house.

During a follow up search in the grounds of a nearby church, gardaí arrested the man and recovered the replica firearm along with a balaclava and gloves.

A car bearing false registration plates was discovered nearby.