Jury sworn in for murder trial

A 20-year-old Limerick man is due to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court later this week for the murder of a young carpenter just over a year ago.

Kenneth Collopy, of Kilonan, Ballysimon, appeared briefly in court today where he pleaded not guilty to the murder of Daniel Fitzgerald at Cloughnadromin, Ballysimon in 2009.

The 24-year-old was shot dead at a house on the main Limerick to Tipperary road on December 8 of that year.

Just after the jury was sworn in, Collopy's defence barrister, Mr Brendan Grehan SC, informed the court that his client had recognised one of the jurors.

Mr Justice Paul Carney excused the juror and another was sworn in their place.

The trial is expected to take two weeks before the jury of nine women and three men.