Jury fails to reach verdict in trial of dentist accused of sexual assault

THE jury in the trial of a dentist accused of sexually assaulting a dental nurse failed to reach a verdict yesterday after almost seven hours of deliberation.

The jury of eight men and four women began deliberations at lunchtime on Wednesday, and at 4pm yesterday Judge Rory McCabe asked them: “Do you believe, if given more time, there is a prospect you will arrive at a majority verdict?” The foreman replied: “No.”

Judge McCabe then directed him to write the word “disagree” on the issue paper.