Man faces explosives charges

Explosives were found on farmland in County Kilkenny

An electrician from County Wexford has appeared in court charged in connection with an explosives find in the Republic of Ireland earlier this week.

Tomas Ryan, 25, who was arrested by detectives investigating the activities of dissident republican groups, was charged with the unlawful possession of 86 sticks of gelignite in the County Kilkenny village of Kilmacow on 18 December.

Dublin Special Criminal Court heard that Mr Ryan works as an electrician at a mining company.

A garda detective sergeant said Mr Ryan had made a full statement to the Irish police and intended to plead guilty.

He said Mr Ryan had admitted that he had made "an awful mistake".

The sergeant added that he had undertaken to dissociate himself from dissident republicans.

The garda officer added that there were "much bigger players involved than the man in court".

Mr Ryan was remanded on bail to appear in court again on 11 January.

Another man arrested in the same operation has since been released.

In the seizure on Wednesday, four bags of the powerful Frangex explosive were found after a two day operation in Kilmacow.