Judge dismisses jury as Macroom murder trial collapses

Jury dismissed after significant undisclosed legal issues halt the Macroom murder trial involving two Cork defendants

Daniel Hourigan, originally from Farranree in Cork city. Picture: Denis Boyle

The Macroom murder trial collapsed today on the ninth day of hearing before a judge and jury.

On Tuesday afternoon, at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford thanked the nine men and three women of the jury.

The judge said, “As I indicated to you yesterday, there was a legal argument to be had of a significant nature… For legal reasons – for me rather than you – I am going to discharge you now as a jury… There were legal issues that had to be dealt with by me. I am going to excuse you from jury service for five years.

“These cases are difficult. You have been engaged on this and your participation has been extremely helpful and necessary.” 

For legal reasons, the legal issues that gave rise to today’s development cannot be reported.

When the trial commenced, 33-year-old Daniel Hourigan, originally from Farranree in Cork city, and 32-year-old Linda O'Flynn, originally from the Hollyhill area of Cork city, both denied the murder of 61-year-old Michael Foley at his home in Macroom between January 31 and February 1, 2024.

To the murder charge, each of them replied not guilty to murder but guilty of impeding the prosecution of another person.