Maze prison escapee Brendan McFarlane told gardaí that he was "prepared for the big one" when he was questioned about the kidnapping of former supermarket executive Don Tidey, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

VHI and BUPA were let off on a 1 million bill to a public hospital because the doctors wouldn’t give details of the treatment provided to a private patient.

Maze escaper Brendan ``Bik'' Mc Farlane was remanded until next October by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on charges connected with the 1983 kidnap of supermarket executive Don Tidey.