Two men arrested during a Garda investigation into the activities of dissident republicans were convicted by the Special Criminal Court today of membership of an illegal organisation.

Two Detective Chief Superintendents have given evidence at the Special Criminal Court of their beliefs that three men accused of being Real IRA members were members of an illegal organisation.

A Garda ballistics expert has told the Special Criminal Court that he found no evidence of any explosive substances in a car that had been stopped at gunpoint on the N4 near Mullingar.

Members of the Garda Special Detective Unit pulled over a car at gunpoint and found what an officer believed to be electric timing devices in the boot, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Three alleged Real IRA members were arrested after a major garda surveillance organisation against the dissident terrorist organisation, the Special Criminal Court was told today.