Five men have appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with conspiring to murder a
member of the Hutch family.
They are accused of helping a gang to try and kill Patrick Hutch between February 1 and March 10 last year.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with judges Sarah Berkeley and James Faughnan, said the Dublin men should be tried before the non-jury court.
They include Ciaran O’Driscoll, 24, from Cumberland Street; Patrick Curtis, 38, and his 32-year-old brother Stephen Curtis, both from Bellmans Walk.
They are accused alongside Mohammed Smew, 27, from Shanowen Road, and 43-year-old Michael Burns, of no fixed abode.
Each of the five men are also charged with participating in activities intending to facilitate the murder between February 1 and 28 last year.
In addition, Patrick Curtis and Mr Burns are accused of directing the activities of a criminal gang between February 1 and March 10 last year.
Evidence was given by gardai about the arrest, charge and caution of the five defendants.
Lawyers for Mr O’Driscoll and the Curtis brothers asked for their clients to be detained in Mountjoy rather than Portlaoise jails but Mr Justice Coffey said this was a matter for the prison governor.
The five defendants were remanded in custody until February 3, when it is expected they will be served with books of evidence.
