Man to stand trial next year in Garda surveillance case

A Dublin man will stand trial at the Special Criminal Court next year on charges connected to an alleged surveillance operation on the Dublin headquarters of a number of specialist Garda units.

Corey Mulhall (41) was arrested in September last year after detectives observed suspicious activity at a hotel close to Harcourt Square Garda station. The station is home to the Special Detective Unit, whose tasks include monitoring the activities of dissident republicans.

Enquiries revealed that a person known to gardai had rented a room overlooking Harcourt Square under a false name, while a subsequent search of the room resulted in the seizure of equipment which it is believed was being used for surveillance purposes.

Mulhall, of Daletree Court, Ballycullen, Dublin 24, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on September 26th, 2012.

In October he was granted bail on his own bond of €100 and on an independent surety of €20,000.

Counsel for the State, Vincent Heneghan BL, this morning told the non-jury court that the State estimated the trial would last for two weeks.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, said the court would fix January 14th, 2014 for trial.

He told Mr Mulhall that if he intended to rely on the defence of alibi he must notify the prosecution within 14 days and furnish the relevant names and addresses.

He said Mr Muhall should not without leave of court call anybody to give evidence on his behalf unless 21 days before the day of the trial he gives notice of his intention to do so.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge John O’Hagan and Judge William Hamill, remanded the accused man on continuing bail to appear before the non-jury court again on January 14th next year for trial.