Munster abuse trial: Judge refuses to set aside guilty verdicts over juror's letter

Mr Justice McDermott referred to a British judgment from the House of Lords which ruled the secrecy of jury deliberations must be upheld

The five members of the extended family - the parents of the children, an aunt and two of their uncles -  are due to face a sentence hearing in January.

The trial judge in the Munster child sexual abuse trial has rejected submissions to set aside the guilty verdicts and carry out enquiries in the wake of a letter written by one of the jurors.

Five members of the same extended family were found guilty of all but one of the 78 counts against them following a 10-week trial that took place between May and August this year. They are due to face a sentence hearing in January.