The trial of a man charged with the manslaughter of an Estonian national has collapsed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Tony Hunt discharged the jury of six men and six women on day 11 of the trial and at the close of the State’s case.
Paul Gibbons (27), of Moatview Drive, Priorswood, had pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mr Valeri Ranert (27) at Naul Road, Swords on April 30, 2007.
He had also pleaded not guilty to unlawfully seizing by force the Golf belonging to Mr Ranert on the same occasion.
Judge Hunt explained to the jurors he felt they shouldn’t have heard certain evidence concerning Mr Gibbons’s garda interviews and that this may have had “huge implications” on the balance of the trial.
He told them: “Virtually at the last hurdle the horse falls and you were deprived of the purpose you were brought here to do.”
“You stayed with the case and that’s a great tribute to you to give up two weeks of your life especially coming up to Christmas.”
He thanked the jurors, said he hoped they found their time in court “instructive” and exempted them from jury service for ten years