The judge in the case of five men accused of murdering Limerick man Mr Kieran Keane has warned jurors to ignore reports in the media regarding the case.
In a strongly worded address to the jury this afternoon., Mr Justice Paul Carney warned that there had been a "very substantial" amount of material that had been broadcast or appeared in print that is inaccurate and prejudicial."
He instructed jurors to judge the case on the basis of facts presented to them in the trial and told them that they could trust absolutely nothing that was seen or heard anywhere else.
Mr Justice Carney issued the strongly worded statement this afternoon following a morning dominated by legal argument.
He said he had to power to sequester them to a hotel to keep them away from the influence of the media but said he "had confidence and faith in juries and so has the Constitution" and that he would not sequester them for the moment.
He added: "It is not just the tabloid newspaper that are causing mischief . .it is also the broadsheets."
He also told the court he may refer some of the growing amount of material to the Attorney General to consider what steps may be appropriate at a later date.
Later in the afternoon, the jury were shown photographic exhibits showing the body of the deceased man, Mr Kieran Keane, and injuries to Mr Owen Treacy, the chief prosecution witness in the case.
The five accused have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Keane, (36), Garryowen House, Greenhills Road, Garryowen, Co Limerick, at Drombana, Bushy Island, Co Limerick, on January 29th last and to the false imprisonment of Mr Keane on the same date.
They have also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mr Keane's nephew, Mr Owen Treacy of St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick, on the same date and the same location and to falsely imprisoning Mr Treacy.
The accused are Mr Desmond Dundon (20) Hyde Road, Limerick; Mr David Stanners (31) Pineview Gardens, Moyross; Mr James McCarthy (24) Delmege Park, Moyross; Mr Christopher Costelloe (20) Moylish Avenue, Ballynanty Beg; and Mr Anthony McCarthy (21) Fairgreen, Garryowen.
The Central Criminal Court trial is taking place in Clover Hill courthouse in Dublin. Mr Justice Carney said the decision to hold the trial in Clover Hill was for reasons of space.