‘Guarantee’ actor’s trial for alleged assault of woman delayed

The trial of actor David Murray, who is accused of assaulting a woman in Dublin, has been delayed after he mixed up his court date.

Dublin District Court previously heard The Guarantee star will “strongly” contest the allegation and he was due to go on trial on Monday.

However, when the case was called defence solicitor Matthew De Courcy told Judge Ann Ryan that his client was not present.

The lawyer explained Mr Murray (44) thought the trial was be heard on Tuesday. He could not come down to the courthouse on Monday because he was he had an appointment to attend in Cork.

The prosecution noted that this was verifiable and consented to the defence request for an adjournment. The court heard the complainant “is anxious to proceed”.

Judge Ryan ordered that the trial would take place in March instead.

Mr Murray faces a single charge under Section Two of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act.

The Cork-born actor is accused of assaulting a named female, at a flat, in Grosvenor Sq, in Rathmines, in south Dublin. The offence is alleged to have occurred on October 5th, 2013.

Defence solicitor Matthew De Courcy has told the court that there was a “not guilty plea” .

The district court trial will last about an hour and it was expected that there would be “one or two witnesses” but no CCTV evidence would be used, the lawyer had said.

Mr De Courcy has also said his client “will be strongly defending the charge”.

No evidence relating to the allegation has been given so far in the proceedings.

The assault charge is a summary offence which on conviction can result in a possible fine and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

The actor was cast as the late minister for finance Brian Lenihan in the film The Guarantee and also starred in the hit TV series Amber.