New date fixed for INLA membership trial

The Special Criminal Court in Dublin today fixed a date in October for the trial of a Dundalk man accused of INLA membership.

The trial of Anthony Lee collapsed last month after it emerged that a Special Branch detective driver for the presiding judge was a witness in the case.

Prosecuting counsel Ms Mary Ellen Ring SC applied to the court to have Lee’s trial relisted at a later date after Mr Justice John MacMenamin pointed out that his driver was a prosecution witness.

Judges sitting at the Special Criminal Court are given drivers from the Garda Special Detective Unit during their period at the court. The dramatic development came towards the end of the prosecution case on the fifth day of Lee's trial last month.

Lee (aged 33), Carnbeg, Doylesfort Road, Dundalk, Co Louth is charged with membership of the INLA on December 20, 2007.

Today the court remanded Lee on continuing bail and fixed his trial for October 6.