THE trial of Mr Brendan Patrick O'Donnell was adjourned yesterday after one juror failed to arrive in court.
Eleven jurors were present when the trial was due to resume yesterday afternoon. One was absent, however, and the court waited for an hour before Mr Justice Lavan adjourned the hearing until this morning.
He told the other jurors he regretted the inconvenience but said the trial could not proceed until there was a full complement of jurors.
Mr Justice Lavan said the necessary arrangements would be made to ensure the missing juror attends today.
The trial was due to resume yesterday after legal discussion in the jury's absence. There was a two day adjournment last week after the court heard the defendant had a respiratory infection.
Mr O'Donnell (21), a native of Co Clare but of no fixed abode, has denied 12 charges relating to events in the west of Ireland in 1994.
He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Imelda Riney (29) and her son Liam (3) on a date between April 28th and May 8th 1994. He also denied the murder of Father Joseph Walsh (37), the former curate of Eyrecourt. Co Galway, between May 3rd and May 8th 1994 and falsely imprisoning him.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to kidnapping Ms Fiona Sampson and Mr Edward Cleary in Co Galway on May 7th 1994 and to hijacking vehicles driven by the same persons.
He further denied having a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life and for unlawful purposes on the same date.
The court has heard the bodies of Imelda Riney and her son Liam were found together in Cregg Wood in Co Clare. The body of Father Walsh was found some 950 feet away. All three had been shot in the head and Ms Riney was shot through the left eye.