AN inquiry into how details of Michael Bambrick's account of killing Patricia McGauley and Mary Cummins was disclosed to tabloid newspapers will be heard before the Central Criminal Court next Tuesday.
Mr Justice Carney directed that the inquiry be held during yesterday's hearing of evidence in relation to the case.
He told Mr Patrick Marrinan SC, prosecuting, that he wanted to know how the information had been made available to the newspapers two months before it was proven in court.
The judge said he wanted names and an inquiry into how this had occurred.
Mr Marrinan said he was unaware of how the material had been disclosed and he, too, was concerned. He had been informed that the information was not released from the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
Del Sgt John Melody told the court the information had not been released by gardai.
He said he understood it emanated from interviews given to the press by certain people after Bambrick pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the two women on May 3rd.
The gardai had the names of those people, the witness said, who did not have possession of the statements made by Bambrick but would have known certain information.
Mr Justice Carney said he would hear the explanations as to how the information was released next Tuesday.
Mr Patrick Gage by SC, defending, said he joined in the judge's disapproval of what had occurred and said no information had been disclosed by the defence to the press.