Freddie Thompson fails in bid to have murder charge dropped

The Special Criminal Court has refused Frederick "Freddie" Thompson's application to have a murder charge against him dismissed.

The 36-year-old Dubliner is charged with the murder of David Douglas (55) in Dublin City on July 1st last year.

Mr Douglas was shot dead in a shop on Bridgefoot Street.

Mr Thompson, of Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin, had applied to the non-jury court to dismiss the murder charge.

The court heard submissions from his barrister, Michael O’Higgins SC, last month, under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Seán Gillane SC made submissions for the prosecution.

Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, said the three-judge court had considered all of the evidence and the submissions from both sides.

She said that they were refusing the application as they were satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to put Mr Thompson on trial for the offence.