Judgment reserved on McFarlane kidnap case

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against a High Court decision preventing the prosecution of Maze prison escaper Brendan “Bik” McFarlane on charges connected with the 1983 kidnap of supermarket executive Don Tidey.

The High Court made an order in July 2003 preventing the DPP from proceeding with McFarlane's trial at the Special Criminal Court because certain exhibits had gone missing and were not available for inspection by McFarlane or his lawyers.