THE jury hearing in the Reynolds libel case has been adjourned until Monday. The court did not sit yesterday because one of them had to attend a family funeral. The case was due to resume today.
However, last night it was announced the hearing was adjourned until Monday because another juror had fallen ill with tonsillitis. He is the third member of the jury to become ill during the three week hearing.
The former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, is suing the Sunday Times over an article printed in its English, Welsh and Scottish editions on November 20th, 1994, which claimed he had lied to his colleagues and misled the Dail over the extradition of a paedophile priest.
Under the headline, "Goodbye Gombeen Man", the article alleged "How a fib too far proved fatal for Ireland's peacemaker and Mr Fixit". The newspaper denies the libel, pleading justification and qualified privilege.
On Monday, Mr James Price QC, counsel for the Sunday Times, will close his case.
The jury is expected to retire to consider their verdict late next week after hearing the closing speeches and Mr Justice French's summing up.