An unemployed man pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday to the murder of his six-month-old daughter. Mr Fergus Whitty (31) denied the murder of Vanessa Kelly at his home in Mount Vernon Crescent, South Douglas Road, Cork, on September 15th, 1996.
A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in for the trial, which was adjourned until this morning to allow time for discussions between prosecution and defence counsel.
The court was told that significant progress had already been made and further time for consultations would be of great assistance. Mr Justice Flood said a further reason for not proceeding was that counsel for the State, Mr Gregory Murphy SC, had been taken ill.