A disabled man who is in custody on a murder charge has secured temporary compassionate bail from the High Court allowing him to attend the funeral of his father today.
The DPP had opposed permitting Mr Gary McNevin to attend the funeral, and prison officers had refused to provide an escort.
Mr McNevin's father died suddenly after returning from Spain so he could provide a permanent Irish address in support of a bail application for his son.
Mr McNevin (31) is charged that between October 17th and October 20th last year, at Monasterboice Road, Crumlin, Dublin, he murdered Mr Peter Mitchell.
Yesterday, Mr Justice White ordered that Mr McNevin be released under Garda supervision to attend the funeral of his father, Mr Thomas McNevin, who died on January 19th.
Mr Michael Hennessy, solicitor for Mr McNevin, said his client's funeral was due to take place at the Roman Catholic church on Mourne Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, today, and the burial would take place afterwards to Glasnevin Cemetery.
Mr Justice White asked: "Who is the man of stone objecting to Mr McNevin's release to attend his father's funeral?"
Mr Joe Barnes, for the DPP, said the director's objection related to the fact that Mr McNevin was of no fixed abode in Ireland.
Mr Justice White said the accused man could be released into the custody of a prison officer or garda. Mr Barnes replied that prison officers had said they would not do the job.
Mr Justice White said he could direct a Garda to escort Mr McNevin. "I am certainly not going to prevent a man attending his own father's funeral."
Mr Shane Costello, for Mr McNevin, said his client was permanently disabled and required crutches. He was, therefore, not the kind of man who might make a run for it.