This article is from page 83 of the 2008-06-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
THE trial of Paschal Carmody, due to get underway last Thursday morning, had to be adjourned, after 46 mem- bers of the jury panel were excused from serving in the case, for various reasons.
33 members of the panel were ex-
cused by Judge Rory McCabe for pro- fessional or personal reasons when the jury was being sworn in on Tues- day morning. An additional five were challenged by the defence legal team, while the prosecution challenged two. Each side has the right to challenge seven members of the panel.
It took more than 30 minutes to
swear in 12 jurors and the case was due to get underway on Thursday morning. However, that morning, two of the female jurors who had been sworn in were excused after they pro- vided reasons to the court. Efforts were made to swear in another two people to replace them.
However, all of the 11 people re-
maining on the jury panel were ex- cused for various reasons and the case was adjourned to Ennis Circuit Court tomorrow (Wednesday), when a new jury panel will be available.
Among the reasons cited were knowledge of the case, holidays, med- ical, work or family reasons.
Judge McCabe expressed the view
that it will be difficult to assemble a
jury.
“Tt looks as if it’s going to be difficult to get a jury in this case,” he said.
However, he said the 10 jurors sworn in would be retained and he would en- deavour to swear another two jurors tomorrow and the trial will then get VNC MWE RA