A judge has been asked to order an investigation into Garda leaks relating to charges against five men who are accused of a series of sex assaults on a young girl.
Solicitor Paudge Dorrian, representing three of the men, claims their prospects of a fair hearing had been prejudiced by advance publicity.
He told Judge Conal Gibbons at the District Court in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, yesterday: "The media are in possession of information they shouldn't have. It has been leaked by gardaí and I am inquiring how and why it was leaked.
"It is prejudicial to my clients," Mr Dorrian continued. "The local media has been in a frenzy publishing matters which shouldn't be published. Highland Radio had an item on this morning that was scandalous."
Five men were accused of a total of 19 charges of sexually assaulting a female on dates between July 1st and November 30th, 2003.
Insp Jimmy Coen, prosecuting, said the girl was a minor at the time and is still a minor.
Judge Gibbons banned publication of any names or ages, including the age of the alleged victim, at this stage.
He said he was making the order "in the best interests, protection and welfare of the alleged injured party". He invoked a law preventing publication of any details that might identify a victim.
Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for two of the accused men, asked for an order barring publication of the name or location of the court.
He said his clients would be pleading not guilty. Judge Gibbons interrupted to say that, like everybody charged but not yet tried, they were innocent men.
However the judge refused to ban identification of the court. He said: "That would be a nonsense."
He told Mr Dorrian that at this stage it was just his opinion that the gardaí had leaked details. He added: "You are right to raise it but if you have allegations of a specific nature you must raise them elsewhere."
The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the cases being sent forward for trial before a jury.
The cases were adjourned to Ballyshannon Court on March 2nd and all five defendants were granted legal aid.