Money-laundering trial judge sends jury home

THE jury in the money-laundering trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard no further evidence yesterday and were sent home by the trial judge until Monday.

The case did not proceed on Wednesday because the accused was described as being “indisposed”.

Judge Cornelius Murphy told the seven men and five women of the jury yesterday morning, “Mr Cunningham is still indisposed. In the safer view of things, we will adjourn until Monday morning. So we will be here all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on Monday morning. And again under no circumstances should you discuss the case with anyone.”

The judge has repeatedly warned the jury, especially coming up to weekends and before some breaks in the case for legal argument, that they should not discuss the case with anyone except among themselves as a jury.

Ted Cunningham, 60, of Woodbine Lodge, Farran, Co Cork, denies 20 charges of money-laundering arising out of the investigation into the robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast in December 2004.

The last evidence heard in the case on Tuesday was in relation to the circumstances of Cunningham’s detention for questioning in the Bridewell Garda Station in February 2005.