Prominent Republican Thomas "Slab" Murphy will go on trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin next year for alleged revenue offences.
The Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday issued a certificate to Dundalk District Court which directs that Mr Murphy (58), Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, be sent forward for trial to that court.
It had been anticipated the case would be dealt with by the Circuit Court in Dundalk.
Historically the non-jury Special Criminal Court has dealt with mainly terrorist related offences but in more recent years it also dealt with other prosecutions including those related to the murder of Veronica Guerin.
Mr Murphy was 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.
In Dundalk District Court yesterday morning Mr Murphy's solicitor Paul Tiernan said he was taken totally by surprise by the move.
He said the charges were essentially civil matters and were in no way related to terrorist offences.
Solicitor for the DPP Michael O'Donovan said it was a criminal matter taken by the director and not a civil matter.
The four volume book of evidence related to the nine alleged offences was served in court.
The DPP earlier applied to the court to have the charge sheets amended. They related to different sections of the legislation under which the charges are brought and the penalties involved.
The amendments were opposed by Mr Tiernan who said he was amazed they were being sought eight weeks after the first court appearance and eight weeks after the DPP had directed Mr Murphy be arrested and charged.
The amendments were allowed by the judge.
The certificate from the DPP which directed that he be returned to the Special Criminal Court stated that it was because, in the DPP's opinion, the ordinary courts were inadequate to secure the proper administration of justice and the preservation of public peace and order in relation to the trial of Mr Murphy.
Mr Tiernan asked for an adjournment to consider what had arisen in court and Judge Flann Brennan adjourned the case until January 10th next. The judge also varied the bail conditions so that he signs on three times a week instead of daily.