The Special Criminal Court has heard firearms and ammunition were allegedly found at the homes of two Dublin men as part of an investigation into dissident republican activity.

47 year old Stephen Hendrick of Balbutcher Drive, Ballymun and 59 year old Pierce Moran of Church Road, East Wall are charged with IRA membership.

Our Courts Correspondent Francesca Comyn reports:

The non-jury court heard gardai searched Stephen Hendrick's home in Ballymun last Saturday afternoon.

The 47 year old was arrested and is charged with unlawfully possessing various firearms, shotgun cartridges, ammuntion for a kalashnikov and explosive substances in suspicious circumstances.

He is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation - the court heard he made no reply when cautioned.

His co-accused Pierce Moran is also accused of IRA membership - he was arrested following a raid at his home in East Wall where it is alleged detectives found firearms and ammunition.

Both men ignored the registrar's request for them to stand as the charges were read out - neither applied for bail at today's sitting.