Trial of man accused of murdering his Cork wife collapses

Judge told jury she had been left in the 'unfortunate position' of having to discharge them and put the matter back to allow for an 'unexpected, complex issue' to be resolved

Valerie French Kilroy died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head and a stab wound to the neck. File picture

The murder trial of James Kilroy, who admitted killing his wife Valerie at their rural Co Mayo home, has collapsed at the Central Criminal Court on Monday afternoon due to an "unexpected, complex matter" that has arisen in the case.

Evidence was scheduled to continue before the 12 jurors on Monday but Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told the 10 men and two women that she had been left in the "unfortunate position" of having to discharge them and put the matter back to allow the issue to be resolved.