Two Dublin men appearing at an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court this evening have been charged with possession of 150kg of explosives.

The men were also charged with IRA membership.

John Brock (43) and John Roche (52) were arrested this afternoon by members of the Special Detective Unit as part of ongoing investigations into dissident republican activity.

Mr Brock, with an address at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24, and Mr Roche, with an address at Bridgefoot St, Dublin 8, were both charged with possession of 57kg of homemade explosives, consisting of ammonium nitrate fuel mix, and thirty-eight 2.5kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives at Naas Rd, Dublin 12, on April 13th, 2016.

Both men were also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on the same date.

Detective Garda Dermot Bolger, of the Special Detective Unit, told State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan that he arrested Mr Brock under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at 3.15pm today on St Ronan's Avenue, Clondalkin.

He said he explained to Mr Brock the reason for his arrest in ordinary language and cautioned him.

Mr Brock made no reply, the court heard.

The detective garda detained Mr Roche in Ronanstown garda station before transporting him to the Special Criminal Court, where he showed the charged man a copy of the original charge sheet, to which Mr Brock again made no reply, the court heard.

Detective Garda Deirdre Ryan, also of the Special Detective Unit, told the court that she arrested Mr Roche this afternoon at Rossmore Avenue, Ballyfermot.

She explained to Mr Roche the reason for his arrest in ordinary language and cautioned him, to which Mr Roche made no reply, the court heard.

The detective garda said that she then detained Mr Roche in Ballyfermot garda station before transporting him to the Special Criminal Court, where she showed the charged man a copy of the original charge sheet.

Again, Mr Roche made no reply, the court heard.

When the registrar read the charges to the men, neither of them stood up.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Martin Nolan, remanded both Mr Brock and Mr Roche in custody until next Thursday morning, April 21, when bail applications are expected to be made.

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