Jury selected in Graham Dwyer trial for Elaine O’Hara murder

The jury in the trial of murder accused Graham Dwyer has been selected at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr Dwyer, a south Dublin architect, is charged with murdering Dublin childcare worker Elaine O'Hara (37) in Co Dublin on August 22nd, 2012. He has pleaded not guilty.

Ms O’ Hara’s remains were found in the Dublin mountains on September 13th, 2013.

In advance of the jury being sworn in, Mr Justice Paul Carney told potential jurors the trial would last between six and eight weeks. He said the case would be difficult for anyone who is particularly squeamish and potential jurors should indicate if they were.

He also listed the addresses and former addresses of Ms O'Hara and her places of work and said anyone who knew her should not serve. He also said anyone with any connection to the alt.com website should not serve.

Mr Dwyer’s address was also read to potential jurors.

Some potential jurors were excused from service because they would not be in the country, others had personal commitments, medical reasons or were concerned for their jobs. One woman said her brother had been murdered and another said she was very squeamish.

The defence team, led by Remy Farrell SC, rejected seven potential jurors without cause.

The prosecution team, led by Sean Guerin SC, rejected seven jurors. A woman was also challenged with cause on the basis the legal teams knew her personally.

It took 25 minutes to select the jury.

The judge told the seven men and five women that the trial would begin on Tuesday morning. He asked them to elect a foreman.

Mr Dwyer (42), of Kerrymount Close in Foxrock, Dublin 18, was arrested in October 2013.

The court was told there were 540 witness statements and 408 witnesses in the case. The book of evidence comprised seven volumes and there were six months of CCTV footage in the case, along with 925 exhibits and five terabytes of data in computer evidence.

Childcare worker Ms O’Hara (37), from Killiney, in Dublin was last seen at about 6.15pm on August 22nd, 2012, near Shanganagh cemetery in south Dublin, where her mother is buried.

Her remains were found in undergrowth by a woman walking her dog at Killakee, Rathfarnham.