THE JURY in the trial of the man charged with murdering rugby player Shane Geoghegan will begin its fourth day of deliberations this morning.
The jury is now down to 10 members, after a second juror was discharged yesterday so he could take a pre-booked flight. Mr Justice Paul Carney had already discharged a juror on Friday when his father became critically ill.
Barry Doyle (25) of Portland Row, Dublin; and Hyde Road, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to murdering the 28-year-old Garryowen player in a case of mistaken identity.
The father of three admitted shooting Mr Geoghegan in video-taped Garda interviews, but has argued in the Central Criminal Court that detectives induced him into the confession.
Mr Geoghegan was shot dead near his home in Dooradoyle,Limerick, on November 9th, 2008.
The judge was about to send the jury to lunch yesterday when the juror asked to be excused to catch his flight.
The judge discharged him, noting that the juror had informed the court of this at the outset of the trial and had been assured it would be well over by now.
The remaining five men and five women had deliberated for a total of 10 hours and 46 minutes when they were sent home last night.
The judge told them that a majority verdict was no longer open to them due to their diminished numbers and that they must reach a unanimous verdict.