Security at the Old Bailey in London was breached yesterday when a video featuring evidence in the trial of an accused gunman went missing from the court despite the presence of armed police.
More than 20 people including senior detectives, barristers, court staff, and a reporter were prevented from leaving Court Two for 40 minutes as a frantic search went ahead.
The video, in a brown jiffy bag, was removed from the court clerk's desk yesterday, within a few feet of the Old Bailey judge.
Court Two is often used for trials needing high profile security and the trial of Mr Michael Boyle (48), a Garda informant, and his co-defendant, Mr David Roads (52), accused of being the armourer in an underworld assassination bid, is no exception.
Mr Boyle, from Dublin, is alleged to be seen on a police surveillance video gunning down Mr Tony Brindle outside his home in Rotherhithe, London, on September 20th, 1995, before police marksmen opened fire on Mr Boyle. It is not that video which vanished.
Both defendants deny attempted murder and associated firearm charges.
Three armed police officers are stationed at the court entrance and names of all those entering the court are checked against police lists. Individuals are searched entering the court - but not when they leave and it was feared the video had been stolen.
The drama unfolded at 4.30 p.m., once the jury had left the courtroom, when the trial was adjourned until today.
Eventually it was decided to search those in the courtroom - before allowing them to go home. Everyone was searched, including senior treasury counsel, prosecutor Mr Nigel Sweeney who exposed a snappy pair of yellow braces as he held up his arms while a woman police officer inspected under his gown.
At 5.10 p.m., forty minutes after it was discovered to be missing, the video had still not been recovered.