A State solicitor on Friday made an ex-parte application (where only one side is represented) on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have the four accused tried before the Special Criminal Court, with the charges having been sent forward from the District Court last month.

TWO men who were allegedly planning a terrorist attack on a mosque and who were allegedly part of a right-wing extremist group were back before Portlaoise District Court last week.

ONE of the two men charged with the possession of explosives after being arrested during a cross-border anti-terrorism operation is seeking that his case be heard in Northern Ireland.