The jury in the case of Donegal county councillor John O’Donnell who is accused of assault causing harm has been sent home for the evening.
The jury of six men and five women had been deliberating for almost three and half hours when one juror member said they had a personal matter to attend to.
Judge John Aylmer, sitting at Letterkenny Circuit Court, said the jury had been deliberating long enough.
He requested that they return tomorrow to continue their deliberations.
O’Donnell, aged 37, is accused of assault causing harm to Seamus O’Donnell in February, 2015 following a night out in Letterkenny.
The victim claims he was kicked in the head while on the ground and knocked unconscious by John O’Donnell of Kilmacrennan.
The victim was hospitalised for eight days following the assault.
The accused has denied the charge.