Prominent republican Thomas “Slab” Murphy was further remanded on continuing bail when he appeared at the Special Criminal Court for alleged revenue offences today.
Lawyers for Mr Murphy (60), of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, applied to the court for a change in his bail conditions and asked that he only be required to sign on twice a week, instead of three times a week.
The three-judge, non-jury court heard that one of Mr Murphy's independent sureties was present in court and had consented to the change.
However, a second was ill in hospital and could not attend, but had instructed Mr Murphy's solicitor that she too consented to the change in conditions.
But Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, said that as the court did not have direct evidence for this, they would have to see a sworn affidavit before consenting to the change.
He gave leave for the matter to be mentioned again next Wednesday.
Mr Murphy is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The nine charges allege that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004.
He was returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court in 2008 from Dundalk District Court and he challenged the return at the High Court in November 2008. The High Court found that Mr Murphy's rights had been breached but ruled that the trial should go ahead.
Mr Murphy has launched a new High Court bid to prevent his trial and today his counsel told the court that certain progress had been made in the matter in relation to pleadings.
Mr Justice Butler called into question whether this could be deemed progress or not.
Prosecution solicitor Mr Michael O' Donovan reiterated that the DPP is anxious that the trial should go ahead as soon as possible.