Gangland-crime accused challenges refusal to grant legal aid

A man facing charges under new anti-gang legislation has secured the permission of the High Court to challenge a District Court judge's refusal to grant him legal aid.

Eddie O'Loughlin, who denies the charge of directing the activities of a criminal organisation contrary to Section 5 of the Criminal Justice Act 2009 in Galway between February and June 2010, claims that Judge Geoffrey Browne did not conduct a proper inquiry into his (O'Loughlin's) means which he ought to have done before refusing to grant him legal aid.