The trial opened has at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin of three Cork men and two Limerick men accused of membership of the Real IRA.
John Edwards SC, prosecuting, said yesterday that it was alleged the men were members of a dissident branch of an illegal organisation - the Real IRA - in December 2003.
Ciarán O'Dwyer (50), Castletroy View, Limerick; John Murphy (25), Ashburton House, Kilbarry, Old Mallow Road, Cork; Ultan Larkin (34), The Bungalow, Farranshone, Limerick; Gerard Varian (46), Bride Valley View, Fairhill, Cork; and Aidan O'Driscoll (25), Glenheights Park, Ballyvolane, Cork, all deny the charge.
Mr Edwards said the main evidence against Mr Murphy, Mr Varian and Mr O'Driscoll would be the belief of Det Chief Supt Michael McAndrew that each was a member of an illegal organisation.
He said the main evidence against Mr O'Dwyer and Mr Larkin would be the testimony of Assistant Garda Commissioner Jerry Kelly who believed that this was the case.
Mr Edwards also said there would be evidence that Mr Varian and Mr Murphy were seen collecting two wreaths from a Cork florist in April 2003.
They were seen leaving one wreath at St Finbarr's cemetery and a card which read: "Let the fight go on. Real IRA, 1st Brigade, 1st Battalion."
The second wreath was recovered elsewhere the next day with a card which read: "Let the fight go on. Real IRA, 1st Cork Brigade, 1st Battalion."
He said the court would hear evidence that gardaí saw Mr Varian, Mr Murphy, Mr O'Dwyer and Mr Larkin at two meetings at a Co Cork hotel.
Mr Edwards said Mr Murphy's fingerprints were found on documents in a rucksack containing 169 rounds of ammunition discovered in a car park at a cemetery in December 2001.
The trial, which is expected to last five weeks, continues at the Special Criminal Court today.