Michael Furlong murder trial collapsed and retrial ordered

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Michael Furlong’s murder trial at the Central Criminal Court was halted by Mr Justice Barry White on 18 November 2013, with a retrial ordered.

Furlong had pleaded not guilty to murdering Patrick Connors between April 28 and April 29, 2011, at Carraig Túr apartments in Enniscorthy. The proceedings were reported on 19 November 2013.

The court had heard that Connors was found dead with face and head wounds, including apparent knife cuts. Furlong denied murdering or assaulting his friend and said he could not explain the injuries, apart from suggesting he might have stumbled on the stairs and fallen.

The trial was stopped after concerns arose about deputy State pathologist Khalid Jabbar’s opinion on the mechanism of death. The defence was calling former assistant State pathologist Declan Gilsenan to challenge the finding that Connors died from head injuries, with alcohol contributing.