Trial adjourned

THE trial of four gardaí accused of beating a young Dublin man with batons after breaking into his home has been adjourned until next Tuesday.

Tom O’Connell SC, prosecuting, made an application to adjourn the trial, saying an “important” matter had arisen in the case and he needed to receive further instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Judge Desmond Hogan acceded to the application and told the jury members that they should not read anything into it and sent them home for the long weekend.

Gardaí Sean O’Leary, Eoin Murtagh, Alan Conlon and Claire Delaney have pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forcing entry to a Basin Street Upper premises, entering as trespassers and assaulting Owen Gaffney, 21, causing him harm on February 17, 2008.