Jury sequestered in false claim trial

The jury in the trial of the man charged with falsely claiming a priest buggered him almost 30 years ago when allegedly tutoring him for his First Holy Communion has been sent to a hotel overnight.

Judge Patricia Ryan sent the jury away after it had been deliberating for four hours and has asked the four women and eight men to resume its work at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the morning. It was day-16 of the trial.

The 34-year-old south inner city accused denies making a false statement to Detective Garda Brian Kavanagh at Kevin Street Garda Station, Dublin on June 18, 2003 that acts of indecent assault and buggery were committed on him by the priest in the period February to May 1981.