The trial of alleged "Real IRA" leader Mr Michael McKevitt for directing terrorism ended in his absence at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday.
Mr McKevitt, who sacked his legal team last Thursday, remained in the cells at the Green Street courthouse as Mr George Birmingham SC closed the prosecution's case.
Mr Justice Johnson at the end of the prosecution's case, sent a written document prepared by the prosecution outlining his options to Mr McKevitt.
The document stated that it was open to Mr McKevitt to make a submission that he had no case to answer, it was open to him to give evidence or to call witnesses on his behalf and it was open to him not to give evidence or call witnesses.
Assistant Chief Prison Officer Ms Margaret Burke brought the document to Mr McKevitt in the cells and returned a short time later. "I handed him the document and he asked me to say: 'With respect, I have been denied the right to a fair trial and I refer the court to my address on Thursday'."
Mr Justice Johnson remanded Mr McKevitt in custody and said the court hoped to deliver a verdict on August 6th.
Earlier, when the trial resumed, Mr Justice Johnson asked Ms Burke to communicate to Mr McKevitt that the court directed him to come to court.
Ms Burke told the court later: "He said with respect that he withdrew from the court in a dignified, peaceful protest and that remains his position."
Mr Birmingham drew the court's attention to an article in yesterday's Irish Independent and said it dealt with the protest at Maghaberry prison in Northern Ireland and sympathetic action by some prisoners at Portlaoise.
He said it made remarks about Mr McKevitt which seemed to be undesirable in a situation where he was on trial and the trial was coming to a close. Mr Justice Johnson said the court was not going to be affected by reports in newspapers.
Mr McKevitt (53), Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, denies membership of the IRA, between August 29th, 1999, and March 28th, 2001. He also denies directing its activities.
During the 26-day trial, the court heard evidence from Mr David Rupert, an American who worked for the FBI and the British Security Service.
Mr Rupert (51), a former trucking company boss and bar owner, said he infiltrated dissident republican groups for the FBI and the British Security Service.