The jury in the trial of five men accused of the murder of Kieran Keane in Limerick last January was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin today.
In a packed courtroom, it took just over an hour for the jury of five women and seven men to be selected after around 50 people cited work difficulties or medical problems.
A jury panel of 180 was present in the courtroom and at least 75 potential jurors had to be called before the final jury was selected.
When Mr Justice Paul Carney was satisfied 12 jurors had been sworn in he asked them if for any reason they could not serve on the jury. At this point two men cited medical difficulties and stepped down.
When the jury had been filled for the second time, Mr Justice Carney asked once again if any of the jurors had any problems. This time two other men stepped down citing nervous difficulties. One man said he was "shaking like a leaf in the juror's box".
At the third time of asking the jury of five women and seven men was selected.
Over a dozen jurors were challenged by the defence.
The case was moved to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin last week following unsuccessful attempts to select a jury in Limerick.
Today, the five accused Limerick men pleaded not guilty to the murder of Kieran Keane in Drombana, Co Limerick, last January 29th, and to the attempted murder of his nephew, Owen Treacy, on the same date. They also pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning the two men on the same date.
The five accused are: Mr James McCarthy (24), Delmege Park, Moyross; Mr David Stanners (31), Pineview Gardens Moyross; Christopher Costelloe (20), Moylish Avenue, Ballynanty; Mr Anthony McCarthy (21), The Fairgreen; and Mr Dessie Dundon (20), Hyde Road.
The trial resumes in Clover Hill Court at 11 a.m. tomorrow and is expected to last between four and eight weeks.
