BREAKING: Jury sworn in for trial of two men accused of murdering Limerick man Dylan McCarthy
Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24) were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court today
A JURY has been sworn in to hear the trial of two Kildare men accused of murdering Kilmallock native Dylan McCarthy two and a half years ago.
Sean Kavanagh (26) with an address at St Mary’s Lane, Church Avenue and Calvin Dunne (24) of Abbey View, both in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this Tuesday afternoon where they both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy (29) within the State on or about August 22, 2022.
Before the jury was empanelled, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs told potential jurors that the trial will involve 97 witnesses and is expected last just over two weeks.
She told the panel that the Director of Public Prosecution’s Senior Counsel in the case is Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing appearing with Jane Horgan Jones BL.
The judge said Mr Kavanagh will be represented in the trial by Michael Lynn SC and Carol Doherty BL while Mr Dunne’s lawyers will be John Fitzgerald SC appearing with barrister Aoife O’Leary.
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She told the panel that if they know any of the parties in the case then they must not serve on the jury. She then read a list of the witnesses expected to give evidence in the trial to the jury pool.
Ms Justice Biggs also told the potential jurors that if they had any difficulties serving then they should bring that to her attention.
She told the panel that Mr Dunne is from Monasterevin and works as a courier while Mr Kavanagh is also from Monasterevin and is employed as a block layer.
After the jury was sworn in, Ms Justice Biggs told the jury that the verdict they reach must be based on the evidence that they hear in the courtroom. She told them it is critical that they are aware at this stage that it would be “totally improper” to carry out any research, either online or in any other way. “That mustn’t be done,” she said.
A jury of 10 men and two women has been selected to hear the case, which is scheduled to begin tomorrow before Ms Justice Biggs and is expected to conclude by February 4.