Geoghegan murder jury 'can return majority verdict'

The jury in the trial of a man accused of fatally shooting Limerick rugby player Shane Geoghegan has been told today that it can return a majority verdict.

Barry Doyle, with addresses in Limerick and Portland Row in Dublin denies murdering the 28-year-old at Clonmore, Kilteragh on November 9, 2008 in a suspected case of mistaken identity.

The jury went back out this morning having spent two and a half hours considering a verdict last Friday.

After a further hour of deliberations, they were called back into court just after noon by Mr Justice Paul Carney.

He has informed the 11 jurors, one was discharged last week, that he will now accept a majority verdict of 10 to one.

They have been asked to decide whether the accused Barry Doyle murdered Shane Geoghegan, a charge which the accused denies.

In garda interviews following his arrest in February 2009, the father-of-three admitted shooting the Garryowen rugby captain.

The defence claims admissions made were a result of psychological pressure by detectives, however.