The High Court has fixed April 9th for the hearing of an action by a garda superintendent to have the State pay his legal costs for appearing before the Morris tribunal inquiry into alleged Garda corruption in Co Donegal.
The action by Supt Kevin Lennon is expected to last two days, the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Finnegan, was told yesterday.
Mr Justice Finnegan had refused Supt Lennon an injunction requiring the State to pay his legal costs before the Morris tribunal, pending the outcome of the superintendent's full action.
However, the judge said he would arrange for the case to be heard at an early date.
When the matter was mentioned yesterday, the judge fixed April 9th as the hearing date.
If there was a problem with that, he directed the parties to mention any difficulty to him on April 1st.
Supt Lennon's proceedings are against the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Mr Jack Fitzgerald SC, for Supt Lennon, said serious allegations were being made against his client before the tribunal and he was anxious the costs issue be resolved at an early stage. He expected it would take two days. His side wanted discovery of correspondence in relation to appearances by the Commissioner on behalf of other gardaí before the tribunal.
Mr Paul O'Higgins SC, for the State, said he did not anticipate any discovery problems.
Supt Lennon has been suspended on 90 per cent of his salary since August last.