Cork sexual assault re-trial collapses after juror researches defendant's background on Facebook

A middle-aged man was on trial having denied two charges of sexual assault and one of child cruelty

The judge said: 'If it went forward it would be unfair to the complainant and to the accused.' File picture

A juror breached his oath in the course of deliberations in a sexual assault trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court by searching the background of the accused on Facebook.

This caused the immediate collapse of the trial on Friday which started on Monday, February 10, and where they began their deliberations on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 12. At least one of the witnesses had travelled from overseas especially for the trial.