A court yesterday heard an application is to be made in the case of Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin who is charged with possession of child pornography, to have the case heard outside Tralee, Co Kerry.
Mr Robert Pierse, solicitor for Judge Brian Curtin, told the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee yesterday he wished to make an application in the case of DPP versus Brian Curtin "to transfer the case". This would have to be done by notice and he wanted leave to make the application next Thursday in Listowel.
Judge Carroll Moran said such an application would have to be made as soon as possible and he would allow it to be made next Thursday.
Set originally for March 9th, the date for the trial had last month been extended to April 20th next at Tralee Circuit Court, following an appeal by Mr Pierse for time to study exhibits he had just received from the State. The case is estimated to take two weeks. It has been before the courts a number of times already, first in the District Court, where jurisdiction was declined.
Judge Curtin, who was not in court yesterday, is charged with knowingly possessing child pornography, under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act (1998), at his home, Ard na Li, Tralee, on May 27th, 2002.
Mr Ed O'Sullivan, for the State, told the Circuit Court the chief prosecuting solicitor's office was dealing with the matter and they would be informed an application was to be made.