The Special Criminal Court has turned down an application by Mr John Gilligan to have court documents made available to him in Britain, where he is fighting extradition on charges connected with the murder of the journalist, Veronica Guerin.
Mr Gilligan is due to appear tomorrow before the High Court in London, where he is seeking a habeas corpus order to prevent his extradition to Ireland.
He has written to the Special Criminal Court seeking a transcript of the evidence heard by the court when it issued 18 warrants seeking his arrest in 1996.
Mr Justice Johnson, presiding at yesterday's hearing of the Special Criminal Court, said that the relevance of the transcripts to Mr Gilligan's current application before the English High Court had not been established, and the court refused the application.
Mr Gilligan was not legally represented at the brief hearing, and counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Tom O'Connell, opposed the application requesting the transcripts.
Mr O'Connell said there were matters contained in the transcripts which the State did not want disclosed. He said that warrants for Mr Gilligan's arrest, issued by the Special Criminal Court, had been executed in the United Kingdom, and Woolwich magistrates had ordered his extradition to Ireland.
Mr Gilligan appealed against the order to the House of Lords, which upheld the magistrates' order. Mr Gilligan, counsel said, had now brought a habeas corpus application to the English High Court on the grounds that he should not be extradited because there was no corresponding non-jury court in England.
Mr O'Connell submitted that Mr Gilligan was not entitled to the transcripts under Irish law or English law.
Mr Gilligan (47), with an address at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, is wanted for the murder of Veronica Guerin on June 26th, 1996. He is also wanted on five counts of illegally importing cannabis, six of having cannabis for sale or supply and six of possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
The House of Lords ruled last November that Mr Gilligan should be returned to Ireland, but he has lodged another appeal to the High Court in London challenging his extradition, which is scheduled to be heard tomorrow. Last December the British authorities dropped money-laundering and drugs charges against him.
He has been in custody in Britain since his arrest at Heathrow Airport in October 1996.