A judge has directed a senior official at the Department of Justice accused of possession of drugs and child abuse images and videos, to appear in court next month to be served with the book of evidence.
Niall Colgan from Muckross Park in Perrystown is charged with possessing two videos and eight images of child abuse material at his home on 1 February 2022.
The offence is contrary to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.
He is also accused of possession of cannabis at his home on the same date, 1 February last year.
Mr Colgan was charged with the offences last month and first appeared at the Dublin District Court on 14 August last where he was remanded on bail to appear before the district court at the Criminal Courts of Justice today.
The court was told that the DPP has directed trial on indictment which means the case is to be sent forward to the higher circuit criminal court.
He has yet to enter a plea in the case. There was no objection to bail.
Detective Garda Alan Young from the Divisional Protective Service Bureau in Tallaght told the court today that Mr Colgan had been excused from appearing in person today because the book of evidence was not ready.
The court heard it is still being typed up and will be ready in two weeks.
Judge Alan Mitchell directed that Mr Colgan attend court the next day and remanded him on continuing bail to appear again at the Dublin District Court on 5 October.
The 38-year-old also served as Press Officer for the Department of Justice and as private secretary to a former Minister for Justice.
