Prominent republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy appeared for the first time at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today on charges connected with alleged revenue offences.
But his lawyers challenged the validity of the order from Dundalk District Court sending him for trial to the Special Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court normally deals with terrorist-related offences but the Director of Public Prosecutions has the discretion in any case to certify that the ordinary courts are inadequate to deal with it and to send it for trial to the three-judge non-jury court.
Mr Murphy (58) from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
The charges allege that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains or the sources of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the tax years from 1996/97 to 2004.
Last Thursday Mr Murphy was sent forward for trial from Dundalk District Court to the Special Criminal Court. Today, when Mr Murphy appeared at the court his counsel Mr Michael O' Higgins challenged the validity of the return for trial.
Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, said the court would have to set aside time to deal with the issue and he remanded Mr Murphy on continuing bail pending the fixing of a date for the hearing of the issue.