Three men appeared in court in Dublin on Saturday charged with membership of a dissident Republican movement.

They were charged with membership of an illegal organization in the wake of the Real IRA funeral for boss Alan Ryan.

A total of 17 men were questioned by officers after Ryan was buried with full paramilitary honors following his murder.

The men were taken into custody after a series of searches in Dublin, Meath and Kildare.

They were all detained under the Offences Against the State Act but only three of the 17 questioned have been charged.

Police discovered imitation firearms at a Dublin address and also confiscated mobile phones, computers and documentation.

The men charged at a sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin are aged 33, 23 and 22 years.

A police spokesman confirmed that files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Ireland’s Minister for Justice Alan Shatter described the Real IRA actions at the Ryan funeral as "reprehensible."

Shatter said: “Some of the events surrounding the funeral were absolutely unacceptable.”