Six men and a youth appeared before a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin last night charged in connection with the discovery of a dissident republican underground training bunker in Herbertstown, Stamullen, Co Meath, on Wednesday.
There was tight security for the court appearance, with armed detectives carrying Uzi submachine guns on duty.
The seven, including a Northern Ireland man, were charged with firearms and ammunition offences and remanded in custody until next Wednesday. Three of the men are from Dublin. They are Mr Anthony Ryan (24), of Grange Abbey Drive, Donaghmede, Mr John Mc Donagh (34), St Oliver's Park, Clondalkin, and Mr Stephen Kelly (17), of North Clarence Street.
The others are Mr Martin Conlon (29), Railway Street, Armagh, Mr Seamus Mc Grane (45), Little Road, Dromiskin, Co Louth, Mr Damien Lawless (35), Nicholas Avenue, Dundalk and Mr Seamus Mc Greevy (46), of Stamullen, Gormanston, Co Meath.
All seven were charged with the unlawful possession of a Zastava 7.62mm assault rifle, a CZ model 70.9mm pistol and CZ model 9mm submachine gun and a quantity of ammunition at Herbertstown, Sta mullen, Co Meath on October 20th. The court heard evidence from members of the Special Detective Unit and Emergency Response Unit that they arrested the men on Wednesday night at Herbertstown, Stamullen, under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
The court was also told that all seven were released from their section 30 arrests yesterday evening and rearrested under section 4 of the Criminal Law Act of 1997.
The court remanded all seven in custody until next Wednesday when bail applications will be heard.
Stephen Kelly, who is 17, was remanded in custody to St Patrick's Institution while the other men were remanded in custody to Portlaoise Prison.
It is understood that files relating to three other people arrested on the same occasion, including a 14-year-old boy, will be forwarded to the DPP.