THE TRIAL of a man charged with the murder of a 33 year old man in Cork city two years ago is due to open at the Central Criminal Court this morning.
Mr Frederick Flannery (35), of no fixed abode, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court yesterday. He pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Denis Patrick O'Driscoll (33), at 9 Wellington Terrace, off Grattan Hill, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, between December 15th and 31st, 1994.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn to hear the case yesterday morning, but when the trial was due to open at 2 p.m., the court was told one of the jurors was unable to continue because of work commitments.
Mr Justice Barr said the juror should have pointed out his commitments to the court authorities before being sworn in. The judge said he would excuse the juror and a replacement juror would be sworn in today from the jury panel.
Counsel for the defence and prosecution indicated their consent to that procedure.
Mr Justice Barr told the other 11 jurors to return to court today and said the trial would proceed after the 12th juror was selected.