The Special Criminal Court yesterday fixed January 11th next year as the date for the trial of four men accused of the capital murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe during a robbery in June 1996.
The four were remanded in custody until then after a brief appearance at the court yesterday.
They are charged with the capital murder of the detective garda at Adare, Co Limerick, on June 7th, 1996. Capital murder carries a mandatory 40-year sentence without remission on conviction.
They are also charged with the attempted murder of Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan at Adare on the same date.
They are Pearse McCauley (33), of Strabane, Co Tyrone, with no fixed address, and three Co Limerick men, Mr Jeremiah Sheehy (36), of Abbey Park, Rathkeale; Mr Michael O'Neill (46), of Lisheen Park, Patrickswell, and Mr Kevin Walsh (42), also of Lisheen Park, Patrickswell.
McCauley and Mr Walsh also face IRA membership charges.
A fifth man, Mr John Quinn (29), of Faha, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, was also remanded on continuing bail for trial on January 11th next year.
He is charged with unlawful possession of ammunition at Patrickswell on June 6th, 1996, and IRA membership.
State counsel Mr George Bermingham said there were legal issues relating to disclosure of documents which could be dealt with in half a day.
The court fixed November 10th next as the date for dealing with the preliminary legal issues.
An earlier court hearing was told the book of evidence in the case is 1,200 pages and the trial is expected to last three months.