Attempted murder trial abandoned as accused flees

A Dublin man accused of shooting a pregnant woman during a botched murder attempt has absconded from his trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Paul Rowley, from Cherry Orchard Avenue in Ballyfermot, has been missing since last Tuesday, although the media banned from reporting his disappearance.

His trial collapsed today when the judge discharged the jury because of the absence of the defendant and his legal team, who had threatened to withdraw from the proceedings.

An arrest warrant for Rowley was issued last Wednesday following his non-appearance.

He had denied trying to murder John Alford of Ballyfermot Drive in 1996 and maliciously intending to cause grevious bodily harm to Mr Alford's girlfriend, who was shot in the knee during the attack.

A major manhunt for the accused has been launched.