Decision against retrial of murder case is upheld

A decision against a retrial of a murder case, which collapsed over disputed pathology evidence, has been upheld by the Court of Appeal.

The dispute arose when state pathologist Marie Cassidy voiced concern over evidence given in the trial by her former deputy, Khalid Jaber. Michael Furlong, aged 37, the Moyne, Enniscorthy, Wexford, was on trial for the murder of Patrick Connors, aged 37, at the Carraig Tur apartment complex, Enniscorthy, in April 2011. He denied murder.

The jury was discharged in November 2013 and the case put into a list to fix dates for a possible retrial. The DPP’s application for a discharge of the jury followed a letter written by Prof Cassidy after she happened to see Dr Jaber giving evidence in the trial. In it, she expressed concern to the DPP about that evidence. Dr Jaber resigned as deputy state pathologist in 2013 following a row with Prof Cassidy.