Application to be heard in Laide case
An application "to guide the media" in relation to reports concerning Dermot Laide will be heard by Judge Yvonne Murphy at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on October 28.
Judge Michael White appointed Judge Murphy as the trial judge in the April 2006 retrial of Mr Laide for the manslaughter of Mr Brian Murphy outside the Burlington Hotel in 2000
Mr Laide, aged 23, from Rossvale, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in February 2004 of manslaughter and violent disorder in relation to the unlawful killing of Mr Murphy outside the hotel on August 31, 2000.
His conviction for manslaughter was overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal on February 24, 2005. His conviction for violent disorder remained.
Mr Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, told Judge White that the Director of Public Prosecutions was concerned with pre trial publicity which might affect Mr Laide’s right to a fair trial and wanted to "protect the integrity of the system between now and the trial".
Mr Grehan said that since Mr Laide’s recent release from custody there had been "quite an amount" of publicity including articles which were "blatantly anti re-prosecution", colour pieces accompanied by "Hello" magazine style photographs and headlines which raised concerns.
Mr Grehan told Judge White that Mr Laide’s original trial had attracted various problems in relation to media coverage, resulting in three publications being found in contempt of court. There had also been "vast publicity in relation to the appeal" he said.
Mr Michael P O’Higgins BL (with Mr Michael O’Higgins SC), defending, told Judge White that he was concerned by an article in the "Irish Sun" newspaper which referred to Mr Laide in its headline as a "thug".
Mr O’Higgins described the latest publicity as "outrageous". He said the article in the "Irish Sun" was "profoundly objectionable" and had sought to "blacken" his client.
Mr Grehan earlier told Judge Desmond Hogan when setting the manslaughter retrial date of April 24, 2006 that the case could take four to five weeks.
