At the Special Criminal Court on Wednesday, legal representatives for McGovern said that Michael Staines solicitors wished to withdraw from the case, with the accused to now be represented by Wayne Kenny solicitors.

On May 29th last, when McGovern arrived in Dublin and was first brought before the court, Mr Callanan said he was reserving his position on the legality of the process and the jurisdiction of the non-jury court.

Sean McGovern, 39, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin amid high security.

The Dubliner is expected to be back in Ireland imminently and was on a Defence Forces flight on Wednesday evening

Sean McGovern was named in the Special Criminal Court in Dublin as one of the leaders of the Kinahan organisation earlier this year.

McGovern is considered second in ranking to cartel leader Daniel Kinahan

Michael Crotty (42) had admitted that in buying the €20 top-up he was reckless as to whether it would be used by the Kinahan criminal organisation in the commission of a serious offence

Noel Kirwan, an innocent man who had no involvement in criminality, was shot dead because members of the Kinahan organisation mistakenly thought that he was connected to the Hutch organisation.