Three men were jailed by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today after a major garda operation against the Continuity IRA led to the discovery of a bomb making operation near the border last year.

A Northern Ireland man arrested by Special Branch detectives near the border last month was a member of a dissident republican organisation on his way to commit serious crime, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Four Northern Ireland men arrested in Co Monaghan earlier this month were members of a Real IRA active service unit preparing to commit serious crime, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Four men who were arrested in Co Monaghan last Friday were charged at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today with membership of an illegal organisation.