Get all the very latest news in Ireland straight to your email every single day Sign up! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

An entire jury was discharged today after two of them nodded off in court.

A new jury will have to be sworn in on Tuesday for a trial involving a man accused of driving his car into a Garda van, dangerous driving and possession of stolen property.

Just 15 minutes into the State’s case against Dean Joyce at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, it was noticed one of the male jurors had fallen asleep.

Garrett Baker BL, prosecuting, was giving his opening address and was explaining the concept of “beyond reasonable doubt” when the tired juror was noticed.

The opening address came to a halt as a jury minder approached the juror and woke him up.

After a short adjournment, defence barrister Pieter Le Vert BL told Judge Elma Sheahan that another male juror had also appeared to be on the verge of nodding off during the opening address.

“It would seem two jurors were struggling,” Mr Le Vert said.

Mr Baker joked that it was a “new low” for opening addresses.

The court heard it may not be legally possible to replace the two jurors, as the trial had already opened.

As a result, Judge Sheahan ruled that she should discharge the entire jury.

“In a most unusual turn of events, I’m going to thank you for your service and discharge you, ” she told them.

Joyce, 24, with an address in Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including endangering gardaí by driving his car into a garda van, four counts of dangerous driving and possession of stolen property in Ballyfermot and Clondalkin on March 3, 2015.

He also pleaded not guilty to driving without a licence, driving without insurance, possession of a boxcutter that was used in a burglary, criminal damage of a garda van and failing to stop for gardaí on the same date.

A new jury will be sworn in on Tuesday.