Employer apologises over juror’s wages claim

THE employer who allegedly told his employee that he would not pay her when she was serving on the jury of murder trial apologised yesterday and said she would be paid.

Meanwhile, the trial itself went into legal argument in the absence of the jury. The six men and six women were told to return to the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork next Tuesday when it is anticipated that the trial will resume with the next witness.

The disputed issue in relation to the payment of the juror’s wages came to light on Wednesday when the juror told Mr Justice Paul Carney that her employer had told her he would not pay her while she was on jury duty. The judge directed the employer to appear before him on Wednesday afternoon when he denied the allegation, but said the young woman’s work had been “out-sourced”. Mr Justice Carney advised him to get legal representation and return to the Central Criminal Court yesterday.