Pair change pleas to guilty ahead of trial

The trial of a man and woman accused of carrying out an aggravated burglary in the Mallow area while armed with a sledgehammer and an iron bar was about to start yesterday — but the two accused changed their pleas to guilty.

Seven men and five women were sworn in on Monday and the trial was due to begin yesterday.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin arrived in court and the jury was just about to be called when Donal McCarthy, prosecuting, said that literally a moment beforehand, the defence had brought matters to his attention and he asked for a five-minute adjournment.