Jury discharged in case of man accused of father's murder

Updated / Wednesday, 28 Oct 2026 18:24

A jury has been discharged two weeks into the trial of a man accused of murdering his father at the apartment they shared in Dublin more than two years ago.

Ms Justice Caroline Biggs told the jury of six men and six women hearing the trial of Seth Whelan, aged 36, that an issue had arisen that left her with no option but to discharge.

In her six years as a judge, she said she cannot recall previously discharging a jury and said she would only do so in exceptional circumstances.

She said the trial would recommence "very soon" with a different panel of jurors.

Seth Whelan replied, "I don't know", earlier this month when he was arraigned on a charge of murdering his father at the home they shared in Herberton Park, Rialto Dublin 8.

His barrister entered a plea of not guilty on Mr Whelan's behalf.

Prosecution barrister Anne-Marie Lawlor SC has previously told the jury that gardaí found Michael Whelan's body on 27 February 2024, about one week after he had died having suffered blunt force trauma to the head.