A judge at Belfast Magistrates Court today said priority should be given to forensic tests in relation to an alleged IRA spy ring at Stormont.
Magistrate Mr George Connor made the comment in court after lawyers again complained about an apparent delay in processing fingerprint evidence in the so-called Stormont-gate case.
"There is an unacceptable delay in this case, particularly in the light of the high profile arrests," said solicitor Mr Peter Madden. "Here we are eleven months down the line and still we don't have any evidence."
In the dock were Mr Denis Donaldson (53), from Aitnomona Crescent, Belfast, who was Sinn Féin's head of administration at Stormont when he was arrested last October; his son-in-law, Mr Ciarán Kearney (32), from Commedagh Drive, Belfast; and Mr William Mackessy (45), a former Stormont porter, from Wolfend Way, Ligoniel.
They are charged with possessing documents that could be useful to terrorists.
Mr Connor adjourned the hearing until October 1st and said he would like to have some indication about when forensic testing was likely to be completed. Clearly this case must be given priority," he said.