Deliberations delayed by U2 concert

gurramok

I found this a bit odd
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0724/breaking64.htm

Deliberations in the trial of five men accused of involvement in a €2.28 million “tiger kidnapping” robbery will not begin until next week because several jurors have tickets for tonight’s U2 concert.

The jury of seven men and five women is expected to begin considering a verdict on Monday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after Judge Tony Hunt ended proceedings early today, on day 56 of the fourteen week trial.

Now, why would a judge do that?

I had always thought that jury duty takes precedence over a concert!

For example, we get excused from our jobs when called to do jury service as its the priority but yet the U2 concert cannot be excused as a priority in a high profile court case??!

seamus

The court won't reimburse anyone for the cost of the ticket, and considering how much each person stumped up, I reckon the judge thought that deliberations could wait for one day.

You also have to consider the length of the case - 56 days so far. I doubt any of them bought a ticket thinking they'd still be listening to that bloody case by the time the gig came along. That is, if the case started last week and they went and bought a ticket, I'd say, "tough ****, have a bit of cop on", but 14 weeks?

Seems like a pretty fair decision to me tbh.

Our man in Havana

Madness.

I would have made them forego the concert. Justice is more important than attending a concert featuring persons of questionable tax residences.

drkpower

Bond-007 wrote: »

Madness.

I would have made them forego the concert. Justice is more important than attending a concert featuring persons of questionable tax residences.

God give me strength; these poor unfortunates have been on jury duty for 56 bloody days - while I dont understand why they couldnt have started today and finished at the usual time (4 or 5pm) (are they to be sequestered once they begin deliberations), the slight delay will have no impact on 'Justice' and U2s tax issues are neither here nor there.

Our man in Havana

You may have gathered that I destest U2 greatly.

johnnyskeleton

gurramok wrote: »

I found this a bit odd
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0724/breaking64.htm


Now, why would a judge do that?

I had always thought that jury duty takes precedence over a concert!

For example, we get excused from our jobs when called to do jury service as its the priority but yet the U2 concert cannot be excused as a priority in a high profile court case??!

It's standard enough in a long trial that ends on a friday for jury deliberations not to start until the following monday. It's so that the jury are not under pressure to come to a verdict (which can often take several days in a big case) and the U2 concert is just an example of plans they may have. Put it another way, if the jury came back with a guilty verdict at 6.30 on the night of a U2 concert and it was known that some jurors were going to it, it would be instant grounds for an appeal and a massive waste of courts time and taxpayers money.

Monkeybonkers

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

It's standard enough in a long trial that ends on a friday for jury deliberations not to start until the following monday. It's so that the jury are not under pressure to come to a verdict (which can often take several days in a big case) and the U2 concert is just an example of plans they may have. Put it another way, if the jury came back with a guilty verdict at 6.30 on the night of a U2 concert and it was known that some jurors were going to it, it would be instant grounds for an appeal and a massive waste of courts time and taxpayers money.

Makes sense