The Special Criminal Court has rejected an application by lawyers for Mr John Gilligan, the man accused of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, to stop his trial.
Mr Gilligan's lawyers had submitted he has no case to answer in relation to the murder and other drugs and firearms charges. They argued it would be unsafe to continue the trial because the evidence of protected witnesses Charles Bowden and Russell Warren was "inherently unreliable."
Yesterday, Mr Justice O'Donovan, presiding, said to accede to the defence application at this stage in the trial would be to adjudicate on matters of fact and the credibility of witnesses.
The judge said the court was satisfied that on the present state of the evidence a reasonable jury, properly instructed and warned of all the dangers, could bring in a verdict against the accused on one or all of the counts against him.
Following the court's ruling, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, counsel for Mr Gilligan, said the defence may be calling some evidence.
The court adjourned the trial until today. It was the 37th day of the trial of Mr Gilligan (48), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sunday Independ- ent crime reporter, Veronica Guerin, at Naas Road, Dublin on June 26th, 1996.
Mr Gilligan also denies 15 other counts alleging the importation of cannabis and firearms and ammunition offences.