THE Reynolds libel trial edged closer to farce in its sixth week yesterday as the whole day was taken up with the jury seeking a definition of two three letter words.
Hopes were high yesterday morning that there would be a verdict. The jury was continuing its search for unanimity and, following the reading of requested extracts from the transcript on Friday, it seemed to be getting somewhere.
However, some less sanguine souls were dampening the high spirits with predictions of a verdict by lunch time today. That now seems hopelessly optimistic.
At 12.10 the court reassembled. The jury was looking for a dictionary. When this was ruled out, they sent a note to the judge with the words they wanted explained. Counsel got into a huddle, then retired with the judge to his, chambers to discuss what to do.
The 1989 edition of the Collins' dictionary and the 1964 edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary were produced, and definitions prepared of the words the jury had written down.
What could it all be about? What obscure word in the English language was proving so incomprehensible that it was holding up a decision? "Gombeen", perhaps? When the jury was recalled, it emerged that they wanted someone to explain the difference between a fib and a lie. Some of the leading legal brains in Britain then explained to them that they would have to decide this for themselves.
The jury retired to consider the nuances and Mr Reynolds, his solicitor Ms Pamela Cassidy, and members of their families went to get a cup of tea in the court canteen. Even here they, like the other exiles of Court 13, were unlucky - it was closed and they had to settle for bars of chocolate in the huge, arched central hall of the Royal Court of Justice.
As they sat on a bench chatting, two young black lawyers stood nearby, clearly discussing the group. Eventually one approached the group. "Excuse me," he said to Mr Reynolds, "we have a bet. Are you Mr Hockey?"
Mr Reynolds looked startled, before he smiled and said "No", to which the other man said, "Thanks! I've just won £20." If this level of understanding of Irish politics is typical of the jury, we will all be growing grey here.