A court in the North has heard how a covert MI5 operation has exposed a dissident republican plot to target judges and police officers in Northern Ireland.

Listening devices found at a house in Newry led to seven men - four of them from the Republic - being charged with a range of terrorist offences.

The accused - who are between the ages of 30 and 75 - have been remanded in custody.

There was a significant police presence in court as the men were charged with the membership of a proscribed organisation.

Six of them are accused of conspiracy to possess explosives, firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and preparation for acts of terrorism.

Five other men - arrested at the same time - have been released pending report to the Public Prosecution Service.

In a separate operation, Gardaí seized four handguns, a shotgun and ammunition during a raid on a house in East Wall yesterday afternoon.

One man, aged in his 50s, was arrested at the scene.