Five men charged with the murder of Limerick man Kieran Keane have pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick.
The trial opened yesterday morning amid tight security. Everyone entering the city's newly refurbished Circuit Courthouse was searched for weapons and frisked by an electronic scanner.
Metal crowd-control barriers were erected outside and armed marksmen from the Garda Síochána stood on the roof of the court building.
A Garda helicopter hovered overhead from early yesterday morning. The five defendants were brought to court under armed escort.
All of them pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Keane at Drombana, Co Limerick, on January 29th and to the attempted murder of his nephew, Mr Owen Treacy, on the same date.
They also pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Mr Keane and Mr Treacy in Limerick city on the same date.
The five accused men are Mr James McCarthy (24), Delmege Park, Moyross; Mr David Stanners (31), Pineview Gardens, Moyross; Mr Christopher Costelloe (20), Moylish Avenue, Ballynanty; Mr Anthony McCarthy (21), The Fairgreen; and Mr Dessie Dundon (20), Hyde Road, all in Limerick.
Mr Treacy, the prosecution's chief witness, was brought to court yesterday flanked by five armed detectives.
He sat alone during yesterday's proceedings in the upstairs viewing gallery of the courtroom. He was guarded by armed detectives.
Mr Keane's widow, Ms Sophie Keane, was among those gathered in the public gallery.
It took just over two hours for a jury of three women and five men to be sworn in for the trial.
A total of 170 jurors were due at court yesterday but fewer than 100 were present.
It is understood a number of medical certificates were handed into the court by potential jurors who did not attend.
Mr Justice Paul Carney, who was due to preside over the trial, was unable to attend due to illness and Mr Justice Paul Butler arrived in his place.
The trial - which is expected to continue until Christmas - is today due to hear opening statements from the prosecution.