THE TRIAL of a man charged with unlawful killing has been transferred from Offaly to Dublin out of “an abundance of caution” that the accused receive a fair trial.
At Tullamore Circuit Court Judge Michael White acceded to an application that the trial of Eddie Wing (29), Limerick St, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, accused of the manslaughter of Offaly pensioner and publican Matt Farrell in April 2009, should take place at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge White said his decision was not based on suggestions of adverse pre-trial publicity or because he believed it was impossible to find a jury in the county which could impartially hear the case, but out of “an abundance of caution”.
He said he was “quite satisfied” the application made by Conor Devally SC, on behalf of Mr Wing, was not an abuse of process.
But he did not accept that prejudicial material published in the Tullamore Tribune newspaper last October made it impossible for him to have a fair trial in Offaly.
The State contested the application, saying there were ways to ensure the jury’s impartiality.