A second man arrested after a major Garda operation pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today to having a massive quantity of explosives near the border last year.

Four men were arrested after a major garda operation led to the discovery of a large quantity of home made explosives near the border last year, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The Special Criminal Court today refused bail to three men charged in connection with the discovery of a massive bomb near the border last month.

Four men charged in connection with the discovery of explosives finds during garda raids in Co Louth last week were further remanded when they appeared before the Special Criminal Court today.

Three men were charged with possession of explosives and a fourth was charged with being a member of the IRA when they appeared at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court tonight.