VINCENT RYAN, THE 22-year-old brother of murdered Real IRA member Alan Ryan, has been charged with membership of an illegal organisation.

Ryan was charged at the Special Criminal Court this morning along with two other men – 33-year-old Nathan Kinsella and 23-year-old Darragh Evans – for being a member of an unlawful group called the IRA, Oglaigh na hEireann or the Irish Republican Army.

The three were arrested with 14 other people as part of an investigation into events at the funeral of Alan Ryan last weekend. The twelve others, including 11 men and one woman, were released without charge last night.

Two other men detained as part of the operation were also released without charge.

After the paramilitary-style funeral, Gardaí launched Operation Ambience and carried out a major search which saw imitation guns, mobile phones and computers seized.

They are investigating the alleged possession and discharge of guns at the funeral for Ryan in north Dublin last Saturday which saw the attendance of a number of men and women dressed in paramilitary-style uniforms.

More than 200 Gardaí were involved in the search operation and an incident room was set up at Clontarf Garda station.

RTÉ News at One reported that the three men have been remanded in custody pending another hearing next Friday. It has also been reported that supporters of the three men stood up and cheered when court was adjourned.