A CRIMINAL trial could not proceed yesterday as a judge was assigned to other duties.
Judge Cyril Kelly said he had wanted to empanel a jury for the trial but he could not as a judge had been taken for civil work and he did not know why.
Earlier, juries were sworn in for two other trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Kelly apologised to the remaining members of the jury panel and sent them away for the day. He said he did not have a judge available to preside over the third case.
Judge Kelly said the trial had been scheduled to take two days and a total of eight witnesses had been inconvenienced. The delay was also at huge expense the State.
The three accused men in the case had opted for trial in relation to charges of handling stolen items. They were demanded on continuing bail and a new trial date was fixed for later this year.