Three men, including two brothers, have appeared in court charged with the murder of nightclub security man Brian Fitzgerald in Limerick four years ago.
All three were charged yesterday with the murder of Mr Fitzgerald (34) at Brookhaven Walk, Mill Road, Corbally, on November 29th, 2002.
There was tight security ahead of their appearance at Limerick District Court and security barriers were erected in the plaza at the front of the building.
Gardaí armed with machine-guns patrolled the area, and members of the public were screened by gardaí on the way into court.
Appearing before Judge Tom O'Donnell were Gary Campion (23), Pineview Gardens, Moyross; Dessie Dundon (22), Hyde Road, Ballinacurra Weston; and his brother, John Dundon (26), of the same address.
Mr Fitzgerald's widow, Alice, sat in the packed courtroom flanked by a female detective and other members of her late husband's family.
Outlining evidence of arrest, charge and caution, gardaí told the court that all three had nothing to say when formally charged.
In the case of all three accused, Insp Tom O'Brien told the court that the books of evidence had been served. He applied to have them returned for trial to the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court.
Judge O'Donnell told the accused that because the charge before the court was murder any bail applications should be brought before the High Court.
He noted that the books of evidence had been served, and remanded all in custody to appear for trial at the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court.
A fourth man, Anthony Kelly (49), Cragg House, Kilrush, Co Clare, is already in custody charged with the same murder. He also appeared before yesterday's court sitting where he was served with the book of evidence and sent forward for trial.
The court heard that a bail application had already been refused in the High Court. However, solicitor for the accused, Eugene O'Kelly, said a fresh application for bail for his client was before the Supreme Court.
Referring to the book of evidence, Mr O'Kelly said he noted it included "the tainted evidence" of a man already convicted at the Central Criminal Court.
Mr Fitzgerald, a father of two, was shot dead outside his Corbally home as he returned from work in Doc's nightclub in Limerick city more than four years ago. His death led to one of the biggest murder investigations in the history of the Limerick Garda division.
One man, James Martin Cahill from Birmingham, is currently serving a life sentence for his role in the murder.