Murder trial jury sent home after juror falls ill

The jury deliberating in a Dublin murder trial was sent home from the Central Criminal Court early today as one of the jurors was sick.

The seven men and five women began deliberating in the morning in the trial of a 25-year-old woman charged with murdering a father-of-four by crushing him with her car.

The taxi driver’s spine was broken in two during the incident and he died of crush injuries to his chest associated with severe, non-survivable internal injuries.

Claire Nolan, of Sheephill Green in Blanchardstown has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 66-year-old Michael Duffy in his son’s driveway on Wellview Grove in Blanchardstown.

The mother-of-one told gardaí that she meant to knock down the victim’s son and has pleaded guilty to Michael Duffy’s manslaughter on January 26, 2008; the prosecution has not accepted this plea.

When the jury arrived in court yesterday morning, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy was informed that one of the male jurors had been sick during the night but was still willing to serve.

The jury deliberated for just under two hours when a court doctor was provided for the man. After hearing from the doctor in the afternoon, Mr Justice McCarthy decided to send the jury home early so the ill man could recover.

The 12 members will continue their deliberations tomorrow morning.