A SUPREME Court appeal by three newspapers and RTE against the refusal of the High Court to quash an order made by a Circuit Court judge who imposed reporting restrictions on a major drugs trial in Cork has been fixed for Thursday, November 13th.
The Irish Times Ltd, Independent Newspapers Ireland Ltd, Examiner Publications (Cork) Ltd and Raidio Telefis Eireann are challenging the ban by Judge Anthony Murphy.
Four non-nationals were on trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on charges relating to the discovery of cocaine valued at £47 million on board a converted trawler in Cork harbour last September.
In the High Court on February 18th, after the newspapers and RTE challenged the reporting restrictions, Mr Justice Morris held that Judge Murphy was empowered to make an order banning day-to-day coverage of the trial.
He was satisfied that Judge Murphy had applied the correct criteria of law.
He was satisfied Judge Murphy was justified in concluding there existed "a real risk of an unfair trial".