Three men arrested in Dublin at the weekend as part of an investigation into the activities of dissident republican groups have been charged in court with membership of an illegal organisation.
Mr Brian Quinn (31), Mr Malachy Maguire (33), and Mr Desmond McCabe (40), all from Newry, Co Down, were remanded in custody when they appered before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
Mr Maguire and Mr McCabe were also accused of possessing two bolt-action rifles and 11 rounds of ammunition.
The three were remanded in custody to Portlaoise prison to appear before the court on September 23rd. Bail applications will be heard on that date.
During their court appearance, the mean spoke only to confirm their names.
The men were arrested when armed gardai stopped a car in the Whitehall area of north Dublin on Saturday afternoon.
Officers said rifles and ammunition were found in the vehicle. The detention of the suspects was part of an operation involving the Garda and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
PA