The Chief Prosecution Office will apply to have the trial of the only garda to be charged in connection with the Carty inquiry into alleged corruption in the force transferred from Donegal to Dublin, Letterkenny Circuit Court was told yesterday. Det Sgt John White (47), of Dreenan, Ballybofey is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm.
The court was told that there would be some 72 witnesses called in the case. Counsel for the State, Mr Paul McDermott BL, said they had put the defence on notice last Friday that there would be an application to transfer the trial to Dublin.
When Judge Joe Matthews asked about the nature of the case, defence counsel Mr Damian Crawford BL said "somewhat more than firearms may emerge". Mr Crawford indicated there would be some legal argument in relation to the transfer application.
Judge Matthews agreed to a defence application and granted legal aid for a junior and a senior counsel, and the case was adjourned until the next sitting of the court in April. Sgt White was remanded on continuing bail.