THE investigation into the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe in Co Limerick last June are not yet complete, the Special Criminal Court was told yesterday.
Three men charged as a result of investigations into the murder were remanded until next month when they appeared in court yesterday.
The Assistant State Solicitor, Mr Brendan Counihan, said the Garda file was not yet complete and he anticipated it would be the new year before the book of evidence was ready.
Mr Counihan said the investigation is "ongoing to date" and has been since June. He said gardai had taken an enormous number of statements and there could be 20 or 30 volumes in the file when it is completed.
Two of the men are each charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life at Adare, Co Limerick, on June 7th, when Garda McCabe was shot dead. They are Mr Michael O'Neill (45), of Lisheen Park, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, and Mr Jeremiah Sheehy (36), of Abbey Park, Rathkeale, Co Limerick.
Mr O'Neill is also charged with IRA membership on June 18th and Mr Sheehy with IRA membership on June 8th.
A third man, Mr John Quinn (28), of Faha, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, is charged with unlawful possession of ammunition at Patrickswell on June 6th and with IRA membership on June 9th.
Mr Counihan said the Director of Public Prosecutions has not yet seen the Garda file and may decide on further charges.
Mr Michael Farrell, solicitor for Mr Quinn and Mr O'Neill, said the charges were "relatively straightforward" and he could not understand why there was a delay in preparing the book of evidence.
Mr Justice Barr, presiding, said the court had to take into account "the totality of the situation" and there was a major investigation involved in the case. He said the Garda authorities should be aware of the importance of completing the file and added that people were being detained in custody who had rights.
Mr Sheehy and Mr O'Neill were remanded in custody and Mr Quinn on continuing bail until November 19th.