A Limerick murder trial was halted today when two jurors had to be excused from duty.
The trial of two men charged with murdering Mr Patrick Crawford on June 2nd, 2002 was due to begin today at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick. The 41-year-old died after being stabbed to death near his home in Moyross last year.
Mr Patrick Desmond (28), St Mary's Park, Limerick, and Mr Stuart Moloney, (18), Moyross, Limerick, both deny the charge and have also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Crawford causing him serious harm on the dame date.
Judge Barry White said he had no option but to discharge two jurors after hearing that one of the panel - the only female juror - was nervous of jury duty and that a male juror worked with an uncle of one of the accused men.
The woman also presented the court with a medical certificate. Both the judge and counsel agreed that there were "compelling reasons" why she should be excused.
The jury of 11 men and one woman had been sworn in on Tuesday.
Judge White directed the County Registrar to send out 200 emergency jury service summonses as the trial had not yet commenced and he could not "even contemplate" starting a trial with just 10 jurors. He said he was sending out so many summonses because he would "be very surprised if all 200 attend".
The remaining ten jurors were asked to return to court next Monday.