Three friends have appeared in court charged with the possession of two guns and ammunition in Kildare.

The court heard it will be alleged the weapons were bought on the dark web with the young men being described as ‘young and naïve’.

The judge was told the three childhood friends were in a car that was stopped by Gardaí on Saturday in Straffan, County Kildare.

A rifle, a handgun and 42 rounds of ammunition were discovered, which it would be alleged were bought on the dark web for €2,700.

The court heard it would be alleged 21-year-old Evan Fitzgerald of Kiltegan in Wicklow has a fascination with firearms.

A detective garda agreed one of the guns could be used in warfare but said he believed it was bought for an interest or hobby and not for violence.

Two other men, 20-year-old Shane Kinsella from Kiltegan and 19-year-old Daniel Quinn Burke from Allendale Lawn in Baltinglass, were also charged.

Judge Desmond Zaidan described the three young men as looking ‘so young and naive’ but noted the allegations were still very serious.

Solicitor Tim Kineally, representing Evan Fitzgerald and Shane Kinsella, applied for bail for his clients and described Mr Fitzgerald as being in the most ‘precarious position’.

The three men were all granted bail with conditions including that they don’t contact each other and sign on at a Garda station daily.

They are due back in court in June for DPP directions.