The trial of a Dublin man accused of having more than £2 million worth of cannabis was adjourned until November at the Special Criminal Court yesterday after the court was told the prosecution had made a large volume of material available to the defence.
Mr Patrick Eugene Holland (58), a native of Dublin, with an address at Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, had been due to go on trial next Tuesday on charges of possession of cannabis with intent to supply within the State between October 1st, 1995, and October 6th, 1996.
However, yesterday Mr Brendan Grogan SC, for Mr Holland, applied for an adjournment and said he had been told the prosecution was furnishing a "considerable amount of material" for inspection by the defence.
Prosecuting counsel Mr Peter Charleton SC said the case was part of a much wider investigation, and "confidentiality looms large" in it. He said the State wanted to make a full disclosure of potential evidence to the defence.
The extra material available to the defence amounted to between 150 and 200 pages, he said.
Mr Justice Barr, presiding, said the court had fixed the trial for next week but in the circumstances it would adjourn it until November 18th.