Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury foreman in double murder trial excused after telling the court he is to take garda assessment test

Date
2015-02-17

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

At the Central Criminal Court, the jury foreman in the trial of Mark Nash, accused of murdering two women in 1997, was excused from duty after disclosing his intention to sit a garda assessment test. Mr Justice Carroll Moran determined that the foreman's aspiration to join An Garda Síochána presented a perception of bias, particularly given that garda witnesses and their credibility form part of the case. The jury was subsequently reduced from twelve to eleven members, and a replacement foreman was elected. Detective Garda Anthony Reidy, now retired from Mill Street station in Galway, gave evidence concerning interviews conducted with Nash on 16 August 1997. During questioning about an assault in Roscommon, Nash allegedly volunteered an account of stabbing two women in Phibsborough months earlier. The court also heard that Nash subsequently pointed out a house at Orchard View in Grangegorman, which he identified as the location of the alleged murders. The trial continues. Mark Nash pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury foreman in double murder trial excused after telling the court he is to take garda assessment test. Charges or matters: the double murder of Sylvia Shields (59) and Mary Callanan (61), who lived in sheltered accommodation, in a house attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman between March 6 and March 7, 1997. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 6 Hearing Or Sentence
March 7, 1997 Hearing Or Sentence
Saturday August 16 1997 Incident
August 16 Incident
August 16, 1997 Incident
August 16 1997 Incident
Saturday August 16, 1997 Hearing Or Sentence
2015-02-17 Publication

Why: After lunch Mr Justice Moran informed the court there had been a development in the case and it had arisen because the jury foreman said he wanted a day off next week to go to a Garda assessment. CNI source report

Case subjects

Mark Nash

Accused

Charges: the double murder of Sylvia Shields (59) and Mary Callanan (61), who lived in sheltered accommodation, in a house attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman between March 6 and March 7, 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: On Sunday afternoon, Mr Nash was remanded to go from Mill Street Garda Station in Galway to Mountjoy Prison in Dublin and was escorted by Det Garda Reidy, Garda Duffy and Garda Barrett.