Witness's illness leads to murder trial collapse

The trial of a 25-year-old Limerick man accused of murder collapsed today at the Central Criminal Court due to the illness of a crucial prosecution witness.

Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins discharged the jury of eight women and three men in the trial of Mr Paul Coffey, formerly of Derryfada, Clonlara, Co Clare.

Mr Coffey had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Eddie Ryan (41), a married man with three children, in Limerick city on November 12, 2000.

The trial judge thanked the jury and apologised to them for any frustration caused by delays in the trial which began last Monday.

A juror was dismissed on Tuesday, and legal argument began then in the absence of the jury.

The court heard today that a vital witness had been taken into hospital and will have to remain there for some time.

"Prosecution counsel considered this witness vital to their case...and in the interests of justice we can't go on at this stage," the judge said.

During the opening days of the trial, the court heard that the fatal shooting at a pub in Limerick was a result of a long-standing feud between a Limerick family and "a number of other factions" in the city.

Mr Tom O'Connell SC, prosecuting, told the court that two women were also shot when two masked gunmen opened fire on Mr Edward (Eddie) Ryan in the city-centre pub.

Sixteen rounds of ammunition were fired during the fatal assault; seven of these were fired at the windows of the pub as the attackers sped away.

The prosecution alleged that the accused was part of a "killing party" and that he aided and abetted the two gunmen by acting as the driver of the getaway car.

He will be remanded in custody until the next list to fix dates on April 25.