Four men have appeared before a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin this evening charged in connection with the discovery of a van in Co Louth containing half a tonne of an explosive mix on Friday.
Three of the men were be charged with possession of explosives while the forth will face charges of being a member of an illegal organisation.
Two other men arrested in the same operation have now been released. Files on these men have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The explosive mix was discovered in a van when gardaí raided an outhouse near Hackballscross, Co Louth.
Gardaí believe that the explosives were for use by dissident republicans. The ages of those arrested ranges from early twenties to mid-30s.
A man has been arrested in Northern Ireland following as part of the investigation into the discovery.