Dublin man's trial on drug charge put back

The trial of a Dublin man accused of having more than £2 million worth of
cannabis was adjourned until November at the Special Criminal Court
yesterday after the court was told the prosecution had made a large volume
of material available to the defence.

Mr Patrick Eugene Holland (58), a native of Dublin, with an address at
Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, had been due to go on trial next Tuesday on
charges of possession of cannabis with intent to supply within the State
between October 1st, 1995, and October 6th, 1996.

However, yesterday Mr Brendan Grogan SC, for Mr Holland, applied for an
adjournment and said he had been told the prosecution was furnishing a
"considerable amount of material" for inspection by the defence.

Prosecuting counsel Mr Peter Charleton SC said the case was part of a much
wider investigation, and "confidentiality looms large" in it. He said the
State wanted to make a full disclosure of potential evidence to the defence.

The extra material available to the defence amounted to between 150 and 200
pages, he said.

Mr Justice Barr, presiding, said the court had fixed the trial for next
week but in the circumstances it would adjourn it until November 18th.