Three men from the North arrested after gardaí received a tip-off that dissident republicans were about to carry out a "tiger kidnapping" in Co Donegal earlier this year were convicted of IRA membership at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

The Special Criminal Court in Dublin has reserved judgment in the trial of three Northern Ireland men arrested during a garda investigation into dissident republican activity who are accused of IRA membership.

Closing speeches have been heard in the Special Criminal Court trial of three Northern Ireland men charged with membership of the IRA.

A Garda Chief Superintendant has told the Special Criminal Court that he will not disclose the name of an informant who provided intelligence implicating three Northern Ireland men in IRA activities for fear they will end up “in a shallow grave”.

Door staff at a Letterkenny nightclub received no approach for work from any of three men from the North accused of membership of the IRA in the hours before their arrest, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

A Garda ballistics expert has told the Special Criminal Court that an air pistol found in a car in which three Northern Ireland men charged with membership of the IRA were travelling when arrested is not a “BB” gun.

A replica firearm was found in a car in which three men from the North charged with membership of the IRA where travelling when arrested, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

The trial of three men from the North men charged with membership of the IRA has heard that none of the accused were under surveillance before their arrest.

The trial of three men from the North, charged with membership of the IRA, has been adjourned until tomorrow.

A member of the garda unit who arrested three men as part of an investigation in to the activity of dissident republicans has denied misleading the Special Criminal Court.

The trial of three North men who were arrested during a garda investigation into dissident republican activity in Co Donegal last February continued at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Gardaí investigating dissident republican activity in Co Donegal last February found cable ties in a car and arrested three men from the North, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin was told today.