High Court to inquire into detention of Cork man after post office raid
The High Court is to hold an inquiry into whether a Cork man jailed over an armed raid on a busy post office is being legally held.
Michael O’Callaghan from Kilbarry Place, Farranree, is challenging his convictions on the basis that evidence was gathered using invalid search warrants.
Mr O'Callaghan was found guilty of robbery and possession of a firearm by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in February last year.
He was described as a career criminal and jailed for 10 years, but has since launched an appeal against his convictions.
However he is now looking to benefit from a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year striking down section 29 of the Offences Against the State Act.
The section was found unconstitutional as it allowed Superintendents to issue search warrants in cases that they were working on.
Lawyers for Michael O'Callaghan say section 29 warrants were used to obtain evidence at his trial and, on this basis, they claim he is being held unlawfully at Cork prison.
The High Court will hear the challenge on Thursday.
