Jury on rape case fail to reach verdict
The jury in the trial of a Kerry farmer charged with raping a close friend’s daughter in his car six years ago has failed to reach a verdict.
Mr Justice Kevin O’Higgins discharged the jury and thanked it for the care and attention it gave the case during the five day hearing at the Central Criminal Court.
The jury had deliberated for just under five-and-a-half hours before returning to tell the court it was totally deadlocked with no possibility of reaching a verdict.
Mr Justice O’Higgins told the 10 men and two women they had no need to reproach themselves for not producing a verdict and said each of them had acted in accordance with their consciences as they had taken an oath to do when sworn into jury service.
The 46-year-old accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of raping the then 15-year-old girl on March 29, 1996 in County Kerry and gave evidence in his own defence.
He was remanded on continuing bail for a new trial date to be set to hear the case.
