Jury retires in Sligo abuse trial

The jury in the trial of a former Marist brother and primary school teacher accused of sexually abusing an ex-pupil have retired for the evening having failed to reach a verdict.

The 67-year-old accused had pleaded not guilty to 16 charges of indecent assault of the then eight-year-old boy in a Co Sligo school on dates between September 5, 1972 and June 30, 1977.

The jury of seven men and five women had been considering the verdicts for two hours before Judge Patrick McCartan told them to suspend their deliberations.

They will resume again tomorrow.