Jury discharged in Limerick car theft trial, new panel to be selected

A jury in the trial of Paul Curtin, 46, of Ince Buí, Cappamore, County Limerick, was discharged on Tuesday after a juror recognised a person supporting the accused.

Curtin, who has pleaded not guilty to twelve offences alleged to have occurred on 20 December 2019, faces ten counts of theft for breaking into John Moloney Motors and stealing ten cars, which were later crushed for money. He also denies a charge of criminal damage for sawing through the entrance gates at the Ballysimon Road car sales lot, and a charge of deception intended to obtain a gain.

The original jury, comprising seven women and five men, was sworn in on Monday at the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. On the second day of the trial, the juror’s identification of a supporter of Curtin led Judge Colin Daly to discharge the panel and release the twelve jurors from service.

Curtin remains in custody and has been remanded to appear in court on Thursday, when a fresh jury will be selected for a new trial.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Mark Stebnicki / Pexels.