The alleged leader of the "Real IRA" in Munster was caught "red handed" in a bomb factory, a senior Garda officer told the Special Criminal Court.
Chief Supt Gerard Kelly, Limerick, described the accused, Mr James Bullman, as the "number one person" in the "Real IRA" in Munster and "probably number three or four in the country in that organisation".
The chief superintendent was giving evidence in a bail application on behalf of Mr Bullman and his co-accused, Mr Christopher Dinneen. Both men were arrested last week during a raid on Mr Dinneen's house in which gardaí found three separate quantities of Semtex explosives, an AKM assault rifle and almost 300 rounds of ammunition.
Chief Supt Kelly told the court that gardaí found a brown bag containing high-grade explosive "in its finished form" in Mr Dinneen's sitting room.
The trial will hear evidence that Mr Bullman's fingerprint was found on the bag, he added.
The chief superintendent also said that about one kilo of raw Semtex was found in the fireplace. In the sink area, gardaí discovered a plastic bag containing Semtex that was in the process of "being rendered down" to military high- grade explosive.
They also found a hold-all containing 201 rounds of 39mm calibre ammunition and another bag containing assorted ammunition.
Chief Supt Kelly said in his opinion, both men were members of the "Real IRA". He described Mr Dinneen as a "sleeper" who was allegedly part of the "support system" of the organisation and said gardaí were aware of this for some time.
In evidence, both men testified that they were not, and never had been, members of an unlawful organisation.
Refusing bail, Mr Justice O'Donovan said "the court must have regard to the strong objections to bail" by Chief Supt Kelly, particularly in relation to the alleged firearms and explosives finds.
Both men were remanded in custody by the court until January 13th next.