The trial of five men charged with the murder of Limerick man Kieran Keane was adjourned today after three jurors were discharged from the jury panel.
The trial opened yesterday morning amid tight security, with metal detectors installed inside the courthouse and armed gardaí patrolling outside.
A jury of three women and nine men was empanelled yesterday from a pool of 100. A total of 170 potential jurors were deemed eligible for the trial but fewer than 100 turned up in court yesterday.
Two male jurors were excused from the panel today after it emerged that one of them lived in close proximity to one of the accused men. A second juror was also discharged when he said he could not "concentrate" on the case due to an ongoing situation at his place of work involving possible redundancies.
A third jury panellist was then sworn in but later excused after he said he had important university exams coming up.
The trial - which is expected to last until Christmas - was adjourned today by Mr Justice Paul Butler until Friday morning.
The five accused, who were brought to court under armed escort, have 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.