A man on trial at the Special Criminal Court gave no reply when asked by gardaí to account for the presence of 150kg of explosives in a car in which he was a front seat passenger, the court has heard.

Armed gardai found four bags of explosives in the boot of a car and 18 detonators under the front passenger seat when they stopped the vehicle on the Naas Road, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Two Dublin men were stopped by gardaí in a car which was found to contain 150kg of explosives, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Two men appearing at an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court yesterday evening have been charged with possession of 150kg of explosives. The men were also charged with IRA membership.