Defendant's death halts murder trial

A murder trial due to start at the Central Criminal Court this morning could not go ahead when it was announced that one of the…

A murder trial due to start at the Central Criminal Court this morning could not go ahead when it was announced that one of the defendants had died.

Two Dublin brothers were due to go on trial charged with murdering a 15-year-old boy last year.

Paul Barry (39), of Pearse Street, and Michael Barry (24) of Pigeon House, Ringsend, were charged with murdering Toyosi Shittabey in Tyrrelstown, Dublin, on April 2nd, 2010.

When the case was called this morning, Patrick Gageby SC, defending Paul Barry, told Mr Justice Paul Carney his client had been taken to hospital this morning and was deceased.

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Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, said gardaí had confirmed Mr Barry was dead, and Mr Justice Carney directed the indictment against him should be marked that he was deceased.

The court was told that his younger brother and co-accused, Michael Barry, had been in court until being called to St James's Hospital, where his brother died. The case against Michael Barry was adjourned to the end of the month.