The publisher of In Dublin, Mr Michael Hogan, has been returned for trial at the Circuit Criminal Court on charges in relation to advertisements in his magazine. There was some delay in proceedings yesterday when he did not have enough cash to make a higher deposit required under new bail legislation.
Mr Hogan (40), Camden Place, Dublin, was charged under the Public Order act on 53 counts of publishing advertisements for brothels and prostitution.
Yesterday Judge Patrick Brady returned him for trial at the current sittings of the Circuit Criminal Court. He cautioned Mr Hogan to notify the Circuit Court 14 days before trial of any witnesses or alibis he may wish to call.
The judge doubled 's bail to £6,000, causing some difficulty for Mr Hogan who, for a short time, faced the possibility that he might have to be detained until the extra money was available.
Mr Vincent Henaghan said his client was facing "a matter where no custodial sentence can be imposed". Mr Hogan's lawyers were also concerned their client would have to be incarcerated because the District Court could not take possession of such a large sum of cash.
Under the new bail act, Mr Hogan was required to lodge a further £1,000 to that which he had lodged at a previous court appearance, before he could leave the court. Judge Brady agreed to let Mr Hogan stay in the court environs to organise his bail money. Mr Hogan looked ill at ease with the media attention.
Within the hour, Mr Hogan's barrister handed over £1,000 in cash to the court clerk. Mr Hogan waited with other defendants to acknowledge signature of his bail bond. If convicted, he faces fines of up to £530,000.
The charges relate to advertisements carried by In Dublin during the 1997-99 period that were deemed to be for the purposes of prostitution. Mr Hogan was charged on the May 18th last.