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.

The Special Criminal Court today heard closing submissions for the defence in the trial of two men accused of having a massive haul of explosives near the border last year.

A defence lawyer of one of two men accused of having a massive quantity of explosives near the border last year applied for a direction to acquit his client at the Special Criminal Court today.