Shooting trial collapses as victim refuses to answer questions

The trial of a man accused of shooting another man in Crumlin has collapsed after the victim refused to be cross-examined.

Mr Justice Paul Carney yesterday told Mr Daniel Doyle (aged 26) that the only reason he wasn't spending the night in a cell was because he was in a wheelchair after he refused to answer questions put to him by defence counsel Mr Conor Devally SC.

This morning, cross-examination resumed but Mr Doyle refused to answer further questions. When asked by Mr Justice Carney if he refused to be cross-examined he replied: "I'll be killed."

Mr Justice Carney then directed the jury to acquit Mr Paul Hurley (aged 19) of Clonmacnoise Road, Crumlin, Dublin who had denied attempting to murder Mr Doyle on August 15, 2005 in Crumlin. He was also acquitted of a second charge of causing serious harm to Mr Doyle.

Mr Doyle is confined to a wheelchair since the night in question.

Mr Justice Carney told the jury that in a case when the principal witness in particular refused to be cross-examined then that trial was not proceeding in accordance with the law.

Mr Devally told the court that Mr Hurley had no knowledge of any threats made to Mr Doyle but that: "There appear to be other characters mentioned in the book of evidence who are not willing to be mentioned in this court."

Mr Justice Carney thanked the jury of eight men and four woman for their time and excused them from further jury service for the next 10 years.