An Eircell official told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that he dealt with up to 50 requests from gardai for information on mobile phones following the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.
Mr Jim Faughnan said gardai were looking for information on between 70 and 80 mobile phones in a three-year period from 1994 to 1997. He was giving evidence in a "trial within a trial' to decide on the admissibility of evidence about mobile phone calls.
It was the 23rd day of the trial of Mr Brian Meehan (34), of no fixed abode, formerly of Clifton Court, Dublin, and Stanaway Road, Crumlin, Dublin, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Guerin (36), at Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin on June 26th, 1996.
Mr Faughnan told the court that in 1996 he worked at the fraud and security department in Eircell and was responsible for dealing with requests from gardai about telephones. He said he received "numerous requests" from gardai during the Guerin murder investigation and he retrieved information from the Eircell computer which amounted to thousands of printouts which were stored in trolleys in Lucan Garda station.
The court heard last week from Assistant Commissioner Tony Hickey that he applied to Eircell for details about the billing of mobile phones, incoming and outgoing calls, and subscriber details in 1996.
He said he applied for details relating to Mr Brian Meehan, Russell Warren, the drugs gang leader Mr A, another gang member, Mr D, and another man. He said the billing details were required to corroborate statements dealing with serious crime.
Yesterday, Mr Meehan's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins, submitted that the evidence relating to mobile phone calls should not be admitted because it was not lawfully obtained by gardai. He said the State had failed to establish the lawful provenance of the phone records. He also submitted that Mr Meehan's constitutional right to privacy was invaded when gardai obtained details of his mobile phone calls.
Mr Meehan also denies 16 other charges relating to the unlawful importation of cannabis resin and unlawful possession of cannabis resin for the purpose of sale or supply. He has also pleaded not guilty to having a Sten submachine gun, a silencer barrel, two magazines, a 9mm Agram machine pistol, five Walther semi-automatic pistols, four magazines and 1,057 rounds of assorted ammunition with intent to endanger life at Oldcourt Road, Tallaght, Dublin, between November 10th, 1995 and October 3rd, 1996.
The court is due to rule on the admissibility of the telephone evidence today.