Limerick murder trial collapses

The trial has collapsed of a 23-year-old Limerick man accused of murdering another man in the city over three years ago.

Greg Crawford of St Munchin's Street in St Mary's Park denies shooting 25-year-old Gareth Grant in Limerick in October 2007.

The alleged murder weapon was found hidden in the back garden of the accused's grandparents house.

However, the accused's DNA was not found on the gun.

The jury in the two-week trial at the Central Criminal Court - sitting in Limerick - had begun deliberating on a verdict last Friday. However this afternoon the jury was discharged after Mr Justice Paul Carney told them that "something is alleged to have happened, as a result of which, I have been told you shouldn't proceed with this trial".

The accused was remanded in custody to the next sittings of the Central Criminal Court for a date for retrial.