Jury in De La Salle brother trial discharged

The jury has been discharged in the trial of a brother of the De La Salle order accused of abusing a former resident at a childrens institution for young offenders over twenty years ago.

The jury has been discharged in the trial of a brother of the De La Salle order accused of abusing a former resident at a children's institution for young offenders over 20 years ago.

The 56-year-old man had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of indecent assault, one count of buggery and one count of gross indecency against the then-12-year-old complainant at the institution on dates unknown between March 1, 1985 and September 2, 1986.

Judge Frank O'Donnell told the jury of nine men and three women he was discharging them because "certain matters" had arisen that could "taint proceedings" if the trial continued.