Three Co Louth men have pleaded guilty today, in a British court, to conspiring to cause explosions in the Republic and the UK.
The three were arrested in Slovakia last year and extradited to Britain after they were caught trying to buy arms - including rocket-propelled grenades, sniper rifles and a wire guided missile - from MI5 agents posing as Iraqi arms dealers.
Fintan Paul O'Farrell (35), Declan John Rafferty (41) and Michael Christopher McDonald (44) changed their pleas to guilty as their trial at Woolwich Crown Court in London was about to begin.
"They have come to a momentous decision," Mr Ken Macdonald, counsel for Rafferty, told the court before announcing the defendants were changing their pleas.
Charges of membership of the IRA were dropped but the three were charged with five counts under the Terrorism Act and the Explosive Substances Act.
Rafferty and McDonald pleaded guilty to all charges while O’Farrell pleaded not guilty to two offences which related to a previous attempt to buy explosives.
All pleas were accepted by Sir Richard Horwell for the prosecution.
The three were remanded in custody until sentencing next Tuesday.