Microsoft outage delays attempted‑murder trial in Limerick

A Microsoft global outage forced the early adjournment of the opening day of a Limerick trial involving a man accused of attempted murder.

Chad Allan, 28, of Cahir, County Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick to the alleged attempted murder of Patrick Williams, aged in his 40s, at Knockane, Ballylooby, County Tipperary, on 11 October 2025.

Prosecuting senior counsel Eoghan Cole told the jury that Allan acted jointly with an unnamed accomplice, described as the “principle actor”, in an attack that involved a red Audi being driven into a jeep, the victim exiting the vehicle, and petrol being poured over him before he was set alight with a lighter.

Garda Larry Stapleton, Tipperary Divisional Crime Scene Examiner, presented a booklet of 20 photographs taken at the scene, showing a burned‑out car, burnt clothing, a damaged petrol canister, charred number plates and other debris near a children’s play area.

The judge, Ms Justice Melanie Greally, apologised to the jury for the disruption, explaining that the outage caused technical difficulties with the exhibition of evidence and that the trial would resume on Monday.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels.