Defence seek more evidence in surveillance case

on 26/02/2013 12:17:18

Lawyers for a man charged in connection with an alleged surveillance operation on the Dublin headquarters of a number of specialist garda units are seeking the disclosure of more evidence before a date for trial can be set, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Corey Mulhall (aged 41) was arrested in September last year after detectives observed suspicious activity at a hotel close to Harcourt Square Garda Station.

The station is home to the Special Detective Unit, whose tasks include monitoring the activities of dissident republicans.

Enquiries revealed that a person known to gardai had rented a room overlooking Harcourt Square under a false name, while a subsequent search of the room resulted in the seizure of equipment which it is believed was being used for surveillance purposes.

Mulhall, of Daletree Court, Ballycullen, Dublin 24, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on September 26, 2012.

In October he was granted bail on his own bond of €100 and on an independent surety of €20,000.

Mr Vincent Heneghan BL this morning told the non-jury court that the State had intended to seek a date for trial, but due to a request from the defence for "far greater disclosure" than initially anticipated, it was now difficult to inform the court how long the trial will be expected to last.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge William Hamill, remanded the accused man on continuing bail to appear before the non-jury court again on March 22 for mention.