A MAN has been charged with conspiracy to murder the journalist Veronica Guerin, who was shot dead in Dublin last June.
Mr Paul Ward (32), of Windmill Park, Crumlin, Dublin, was also charged with harbouring persons knowing that they had been involved in the murder, and with possession of drugs with intent to supply.
He appeared at a sitting of the Dublin District Court last night and was remanded in custody to Kilmainham District Court next Thursday.
Mr Ward was brought by gardai from Lucan Garda Station to the Dublin District Court at the Bridewell shortly before nine o'clock last night.
He appeared in court wearing black shoes, blue denims and a yellow, blue and green jumper with a diamond pattern. He carried a blue anorak. Throughout the hearing he sat with his legs crossed and the anorak across his knees.
When the hearing began, a Dublin solicitor, Mr Michael Hanahoe, told Judge Thelma King that he represented the defendant.
Del Sgt Gerry Healy gave evidence of charging Mr Ward at 8.15 pm. at Lucan Garda Station with possession of cannabis with intent to supply and of cautioning him that anything he said could be written down and used in evidence.
"He made no reply to the charge", Det Sgt Healy said.
Del Insp Gerry O'Connell then gave evidence of charging the defendant at 8.20 p.m. and of cautioning him. The charge was conspiracy to murder Veronica Guerin, with other persons not yet charged, at a place within the State on or about June 26th. 1996. "He replied: `Innocent'," Del Insp O'Connell said.
Continuing his evidence, he told the court that Mr Ward had made a statement, but had refused to sign it. "I witnessed it", he said.
"He refused to sign, but you witnessed it?" the judge asked.
"I just witnessed that he made the statement", Det Insp O'Connell said.
He then gave evidence that he also charged the defendant with being an accessory after the fact by harbouring people involved in the murder after it had been committed. The defendant had made "no reply" to this charge. Det Insp O'Connell said.
He added that his application to the court was to have the defendant remanded in custody to appear at Kilmainham District Court next Thursday.
Mr Hanahoe asked: "What is your objection to bail?"
Det Insp O'Connell said that, on these charges, bail could only be granted by the High Court.
Mr Hanahoe said that he had no objection to that, but he was anxious to ascertain if there was any objection to bail.
Det Sgt Healy returned to the witness box and said that he objected to bail on the drugs charge. "Witnesses would be intimidated if this man was released and I would have no hesitation in saying, judge, that this man would not stand trial if released."
Mr Hanahoe then said that he was not seeking to make an application for bail.
Judge King, addressing the defendant, said that she was remanding him to appear at Kilmainham District Court at 10.30 a.m. on October 24th. He made no reply.
At the conclusion of the bearing Mr Ward was driven to Mountjoy Prison by gardai.