THE TRIAL OF seven men accused of false imprisonment with regard to a water charges protest in Jobstown, Tallaght, in November 2014 has been delayed after one of the 12-person jury was discharged.
A replacement for the juror will now be selected tomorrow morning from 10am at the Criminal Courts of Justice.
Judge Melanie Greally presiding, once satisfied that the juror should be discharged, recalled the remaining members of the jury and told them that the court “is not in a position to commence trial as planned as we have lost one of your number”.
Greally assured the 11 remaining members that the final juror selection will “hopefully be a much shorter process than what occurred yesterday”.
She then proceeded to release the jury for the remainder of the day and reiterated her calls for them to remain aloof from any form of media concerning the case in the interim.
Following jury selection tomorrow morning, the trial is expected to continue with the opening statement of the prosecution.
The trial is then expected to continue proper from Thursday afternoon at 2pm.
Paul Murphy TD (34), together with South Dublin councillors Kieran Mahon (39), Michael Murphy (53) and four other men have entered not guilty pleas on charges of falsely imprisoning then Tánaiste Joan Burton and her assistant Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on 15 November, 2014.
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