The Special Criminal Court will give its ruling today on legal issues raised by defence lawyers for Mr Paul "Hippo" Ward, who is accused of murdering the journalist Veronica Guerin.
Mr Ward's lawyers are challenging the legality of his arrest on October 16th, 1996, and are arguing that his constitutional rights were breached because of non-compliance with custody regulations while he was in Garda custody at Lucan Garda station. The defence has also claimed that Mr Ward was deprived of medication prescribed for him by a doctor.
Mr Ward (34), from Crumlin, Dublin, with an address at Walkinstown Road, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Guerin (36), at the Naas Road, Clondalkin, Co Dublin, on June 26th, 1996.
The court will give its ruling on the legal issues at 11 a.m.
