The trial of Mr John Gilligan, the alleged drugs gang leader behind the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996, was adjourned until November 21st at the Special Criminal Court yesterday.
On Tuesday the court adjourned the trial for one week after hearing that Mr Gilligan had sacked his legal team and then reinstated it with two new senior counsel.
His counsel then sought a six-week adjournment, but the court heard yesterday that, after this was refused, all the counsel withdrew from the case.
Mr Gilligan's solicitor, Mr Joe Rice, of Belfast, read letters to the court from Mr Eugene Grant QC and from Mr Peter Irvine BL in which they stated that they could not properly prepare a defence in the time allotted by the court.
Counsel indicated that they felt they needed six weeks to consider evidence and transcripts of the trials of two men who are serving life sentences for the Guerin murder, Paul Ward and Brian Meehan.
Two of Mr Gilligan's former counsel, Dr Michael Forde SC and Mr Irvine, who were present yesterday out of courtesy to the court, indicated that they were prepared to take on his case again if they were granted a six-week adjournment.
Mr Justice O'Donovan, presiding, said the court had considered "the unsatisfactory events" which had arisen.
The people of Ireland had the right to have this prosecution go ahead as soon as reasonably possible, he said. The court also had to recognise the views of counsel that they could not professionally represent Mr Gilligan in the time given to them by the court.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is to hold a hearing next Thursday on Mr Gilligan's appeal against the High Court's rejection of his claim to a right to trial by jury.