The Special Criminal Court has fixed a date in January next year for the trial of Dublin man Brian Rattigan, who is facing charges of having mobile phones in Portlaoise prison and possession of heroin.
Rattigan (30), Cooley Road, Drimnagh, is charged with possession of two mobile phones while an inmate at the prison on May 22nd, 2008.
He is also charged with possession of heroin for sale or supply in Walkinstown, Dublin, on May 21st, 2008.
Last March the DPP directed that Rattigan’s trial should be moved from the Circuit Criminal Court to the Special Criminal Court because the ordinary courts were “inadequate” to try the case.