A sixth prisoner involved in the controversy over the composition of the Special Criminal Court got High Court leave yesterday to seek his release. Five other prisoners were granted similar orders on Tuesday.
Yesterday's application was on behalf of a Portlaoise prisoner, Mr Michael O'Neill. His solicitor, Mr Michael Hanahoe, said in an affidavit he was seeking his client's release because of a committal order made by an "invalidly constituted Special Criminal Court".
Mr Hanahoe said Mr O'Neill was arrested on June 18th last and charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and membership of an unlawful organisation.
He was aware that on August 1st last a Government order had removed Judge Dominic Lynch from the Special Criminal Court. Judge Lynch had sat as a member of that court when a committal warrant was issued by the court on October 15th last in respect of Mr O'Neill.
Mr Hanahoe said that as of October 15th last Mr O'Neill was unlawfully detained.