Cork murder trial collapses due to 'memory loss'
The trial of two Cork men accused of murdering another man who was shot in the chest in 2002 has collapsed at the Central Criminal Court after a witness said he had a complete loss of memory for an 18-month period in his life.
Thomas Morey had been described as a key witness for the prosecution in the trial of Cecil Lynch (aged 26) of St Declan's Road, Gurranabraher, and Jerry Ross (aged 27) of St Philomena's Road, Gurranabraher, who both denied murdering John Butler on October 7, 2002, at Gurranabraher Road in Cork.
At the conclusion of the trial Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan directed the jury to enter a verdict of not guilty in respect of each of the accused.
He told them he had been dealing with an application from the defence over the past two days and had agreed there was not a sufficient case to go before the jury.
Mr Justice O'Sullivan told them they would recall that one of the witnesses Mr Morey "had a complete loss of memory for an 18-month period in his life."
Mr Butler's girlfriend and the mother of his child, Rachel Thornhill, who had been called as a witness in the case left the court room in tears along with other members of the Butler family.
Prosecuting counsel Mr Patrick J McCarthy SC asked the judge to direct that a transcript of the court proceedings be given to the gardai in the light of Mr Morey's evidence.
