The Belfast trial of eight men, including two Dubliners, accused of the robbery of more than £300,000 worth of cigarettes has had to be aborted again. This is the fourth time that the Crown Court case against the men, who all deny the February 1996 robbery at Holmes Cash and Carry on Belfast's Boucher Road, has had to be abandoned and a jury discharged.
The court heard yesterday that on Sunday evening two of the jurors were approached by someone who asked if they were serving on the Crown Court trial. Lord Justice MacDermott, after speaking privately with the jurors involved, told defence and prosecution lawyers that he had no option but to discharge the jury and order yet another retrial.