THE trial of a Co Donegal parish priest accused of sexually abusing two altar boys more than 20 years ago ended in Armagh Crown Court yesterday with the jury being discharged.
Judge Tom Burgess sent the 11 jurors away after considering legal submissions by defence counsel, Mr Eugene Grant QC, and senior prosecutor, Mr Terence Mooney.
Earlier he had released the 12th jury member - the forewoman - to go on holiday in Scotland.
The case against Father Edward Kilpatrick (53), of Murlough, began 10 days ago, but the last evidence jurors heard was on the third day.
Since then, they have been given time off on three occasions because of legal technicalities. Last Tuesday Judge Burgess told them they would not be needed for the rest of the week and to return yesterday.
Commenting on the delays, the judge said it must have been frustrating for the jury wondering what was or was not happening.
He explained that perfectly proper and necessary steps had to be taken involving an even greater length of time before the matter could go before a jury.
The judge said he was concerned about the passage of time and the uncertainty as to when the case would be able to start again. He said this was compounded by the woman juror being discharged.
"In the wider interests bf a fair trial, I believe the proper course is to discharge you," Judge Burgess added.
The priest has pleaded not guilty to 19 charges of gross indecency and indecent assault spanning a six-year period from March 1975, when he was curate at Steelstown parish in Derry.
He was released on continuing bail until a date to be fixed.