Bank manager sorry after juror felt pressure to work

A bank manager appeared at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday to explain why an employee felt under pressure to attend work as well as turning up for jury duty.

Judge David Riordan directed the employer to attend court after the juror had raised her concerns with court staff while she served on a jury in an assault trial.

The juror told staff that she was receiving communications from work to the effect that she should attend work before the commencement of the trial in the mornings and after its conclusion in the evenings. Staff at the courthouse informed the employer that there should be no contact with the juror when on jury service. Apparently, there was further contact with the juror .

Judge Riordan said jurors were required to give their services on pain of prosecution for not doing.

The employer indicated yesterday that there was a misunderstanding and that the bank supported all employees attending courts and apologised to the court for the matter. Judge Riordan said he accepted that.

He also directed the juror to bring it back to the attention of the court if there was any further difficulty from the employer in relation to the matter on her return to work after completing jury service.