A round-up of today's court stories
High Court to hear 'Slab' Murphy action
Prominent republican Thomas "Slab'' Murphy is to get a High Court hearing in November in an attempt to prevent his trial for alleged revenue offences.
Mr Murphy (58), Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The charges allege that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains to the collector general or the inspector of taxes for 1996/97 to 2004.
He was returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court last January from Dundalk District Court.
Yesterday the prosecuting solicitor said the High Court would hear judicial review proceedings brought by Mr Murphy on November 18th. He was remanded on continuing bail until the end of December.
Murder accused to remain on bail
A man charged with the murders of two Polish men has been permitted by a High Court judge to remain on bail pending his trial.
David Curran (18), Lissadel Green, Drimnagh, and Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, continues on bail after undertaking to partake in a programme organised by a centre for the prevention of self-harm and suicide.
Mr Curran has been on High Court bail since he was charged with murdering Pawel Kalite (29) and Marius Szwajkos (27) in Drimnagh on February 23rd.
Extradition case adjourned
The High Court has adjourned a request by the British authorities for the extradition of Englishman Perry Wharrie (48), who was jailed last week for his role in a major cocaine-smuggling operation in Co Cork.
The extradition of London- born Wharrie, Pyrles Lane, Loughton, Essex, is being sought for breaching conditions of his release on licence after serving a sentence imposed in relation to the armed robbery of a Securicor van at Barclay's Bank, Hemel Hempstead, on April 14th, 1988, during which a police officer was shot dead.
Mr Justice Michael Peart remanded Wharrie in custody until mid-October.
Six-year sentence for drug offence
A man who was caught carrying heroin valued at over €24,000 because he owed money and feared he would be shot if he did not comply has been given a six-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Stephen Glynn (28), Mourne Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Usher Street, Dublin, on April 6th, 2007.
Man gets two years for assault
A man who launched an unprovoked attack on a Polish neighbour as she returned home from a party has been sentenced to two years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Christopher Conroy (20), originally from Toronto, Canada, told gardaí he punched the woman several times in the face because he mistook her for a man who had thrown a bottle at him a week before.
Conroy, Bray Road, Shankill, pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman on June 17th, 2007.