Legal

Juror misconduct in collapsing trial highlights fundamental flaws in secret courts system

Because of the secrecy of the jury room, no-one really knows to what extent jury members are using the internet to access prohibited information

Great trust is placed in jurors to abide by their oath to return a verdict based only on admissible evidence. Despite this there has probably always been a temptation for a juror to play amateur detective

The collapse earlier this month of the high-profile trial of a man charged with dangerous driving causing the death of GAA commentator Paudie Palmer has drawn public attention in Ireland to the issue of juror misconduct.

The judge discharged the jury after the jury minder overheard a conversation among jurors about one of them having visited the crash site over the weekend.

The problem of juror misconduct is one that other countries have grappled with ...