Jury in Coffey defamation case fails to reach verdict

The case, which took place over 13 days, centred on the newspaper's use of a press release from Paudie Coffey's FG Carlow-Kilkenny colleague, John Paul Phelan.

The jury in the High Court defamation action by former junior minister Paudie Coffey has failed to reach a verdict.

Following nearly 11 hours of deliberation over two days, the foreman of the jury of eight men and four women said they were unable to reach a majority verdict. Before they were sent home on Friday, they were told by Mr Justice Bernard Barton they could reach a minimum majority verdict of nine to three.