The trial of a Belfast man accused of the capital murder of a garda 18 years ago was adjourned at the Special Criminal Court yesterday after the defence requested time to study new material relating to identification. Mr Paul McDermott SC, defending, applied for an adjournment until today to consider the material.
Mr Sean Hughes (43), of Albert Terrace, Belfast, is charged with the capital murder of Garda Patrick Reynolds in Tallaght, Co Dublin, on February 20th, 1982. He is also charged with robbery at Askeaton, Co Limerick, on February 18th, 1982, and with possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life in Tallaght on February 20th, 1982.
Mr McDermott said that a surveillance operation was carried out by French police in Paris in November 1982 which was attended by two gardai. One of the Garda witnesses later said that the French police had pointed out Mr Hughes to him during the identification procedure.
Counsel said that material supplied by the French authorities stated that they had carried out the surveillance operation and had requested the presence of gardai, but material supplied by gardai stated that they had travelled to Paris as a result of confidential information they had received.
The trial was adjourned until today to allow Mr McDermott to consider the new material.