The former Taoiseach, Mr Charles J. Haughey, who is accused of obstructing the work of the McCracken tribunal of inquiry, appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday.
Det Supt Pat Brehony served the book of evidence in the case of Mr Haughey, who sat towards the rear of the courtroom during the short hearing.
Mr Haughey, of Abbeville, Kinsealy, Co Dublin, is accused of twice obstructing the work of the tribunal on payments to politicians.
The first allegation is that in March 1997 he obstructed the tribunal in a letter saying that he had not received any payments in cash or in kind of the nature referred to in the tribunal's terms of reference.
It is further alleged that Mr Haughey obstructed the tribunal in July 1997, in a written statement that he had never received three bank drafts.
Mr Haughey wore a dark grey suit for yesterday's hearing, which had been adjourned from July for service of the book of evidence. His counsel, Mr Eamon Leahy, yesterday suggested a four-week adjournment which would allow time to consider the book of evidence.
Ms Claire Loftus, solicitor, said the DPP wished to take the depositions of three people who were not in the book of evidence.
The president of the District Court, Judge Peter Smithwick, adjourned the case until November 3rd. Mr Haughey is not required to attend on that date.