A lawyer representing a senior GAA figure who faces 75 sex assault charges said yesterday he is seeking a judicial review of the case before the accused man can be sent for trial.
The move involves an application for High Court assessment of the legal process to establish if factors exist which could prejudice the defence.
The accused man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Ballybay District Court, Co Monaghan, on charges involving indecent assaults on young girls and boys between 1958 to 1978. The alleged victims were aged between seven and 15.
The case was adjourned from two previous sittings after a book of evidence was served on the accused man in December.
Mr Roger McGinley, defending, said he was seeking a further adjournment to have the judicial review initiated. If his client was returned for trial, the hearing would have to be deferred in any case if they were successful in their application for judicial review.
Mr Pat Callanan, for the State, opposed the application and said there was already ample opportunity for the defence to prepare its case.
Judge Flann Brennan granted the application but said he wanted to have the situation clarified by the next sitting in Ballybay on March 5th.