Jury discharged in trial of Louth man accused of having two pipe bombs

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A jury in the trial of a man accused of having two pipe bombs has been discharged at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Stephen Donnelly (47), Rosevale, Drogheda, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of explosive substances at that address on April 22, 2021.

On the second day of the trial, Judge Dara Hayes explained to the jury that he accepted a defence submission that evidence had been heard which did not relate to the charge and should not have been given.

“I’m discharging you as a jury. The trial will start again at some point in front of a different jury,” he said.

Mr Donnelly was remanded on the same bail terms to April 20.