The brother of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams is expected to lodge grounds to challenge his extradition on sex abuse charges within weeks, a court has been told.

Liam Adams was remanded on continuing bail after a brief appearance yesterday at Dublin's High Court, where the case was listed again for April 21.

The 54-year-old is wanted in Northern Ireland to answer 18 charges of sexual abuse including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency against his daughter Aine Tyrell.

Adams, who last week handed himself over to Irish authorities after a European Arrest Warrant was served, is planning to fight the extradition.

The alleged offences against his daughter — who waived her right to anonymity last December — date back from March 1977 to March 1983.

A clean-shaven Adams sat at the back of the courtroom in a dark suit with his other daughter, Claire Smith, and her husband during the hearing.

He has already denied he fled Northern Ireland a year ago to escape prosecution but claims he feared he and his children were in danger after media reports of the allegations.

He also maintains he will not get a fair trial.

Adams' barrister Caroline Cummins applied for an adjournment until Wednesday April 21, when Ms Cummins said points of objection are expected to be lodged.

“My client is on bail, he is in court,” she said to Mr Justice Paul Butler.

“Can you remand him on continuing bail?”

The judge granted the application.

Adams, who is currently unemployed and living in rented accommodation, left the Criminal Courts of Justice supported by his daughter — who last week guaranteed his bail with a bond of £6,830.

His school friend Sean Rooney also lodged £6,830, while Adams lodged his own bond of £90.