The trial of a former Christian Brother accused of sexually assaulting four pupils while teaching at the North Monastery Secondary School in Cork has collapsed.
Judge Sean Ó Donnabhain told the jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court he had no alternative but to discharge them from trying the case of Edward Bryan.
Mr Bryan (58), of Martinvilla, Athboy Road, Trim, Co Meath, had denied a total of 10 charges of indecently assaulting four boys at the North Monastery Secondary School in Cork.
The State had alleged that Mr Bryan - formerly Brother Bryan - had committed the indecent assaults on the four complainants on various dates between September 1st, 1984 and June 30th, 1990.
Today, during the second day of the trial, an issue arose over an unsolicited comment made by one of the witnesses during his direct evidence from the box.
Following legal argument in the absence of the jury, Judge Sean Ó Donnabhain recalled the six men and six women trying the case and told them the trial would not continue.
He said he was obliged to discharge the jury and the trial would have to start again. He adjourned the matter until next February for mention.
