Three witnesses have been lined up to give evidence at a hearing to decide if veteran republican Marian Price should stand trial on a charge linked to the murders of two British soldiers, a court has heard.

One of them is due to travel from England for the preliminary inquiry, which is listed to take place in January.

But a judge was told the committal proceedings will be unnecessary if Price succeeds first with an abuse of process application she is planning.

The 57-year-old, also known by her married name of Marian McGlinchey, has been charged with providing property, namely a mobile phone, for the purposes of terrorism.

The allegation is related to the shooting of Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey at Massereene barracks in Antrim in March 2009.

The soldiers were gunned down outside their base as they collected a pizza delivery. Two men are awaiting trial accused of their murders.

Price is expected to try to use a pardon she received 30 years ago to have the case against her dismissed.