Jury did not need specific direction on potential for racial bias

Court of Appeal dismisses appeal of convictions for rape, assault and threats to kill arising from an attack with a hammer by the appellant on his wife and her mother, on the grounds that: (a) the jurors had been adequately and sufficiently warned and advised in relation to their suitability to serve on the jury, without specific reference to the potential for racial bias; (b) the trial judge had been correct to refuse to sever the indictment since there was an obvious and close connection between the incidents relevant to the different counts; (c) the manner in which the trial judge had dealt with questions regarding whether the appellant had muttered the words “you fucker” when in close proximity to garda witnesses within the court room was satisfactory; and (d) the trial judge had been correct to reject the application to call a garda witness who the Director of Public Prosecutions did not consider to be witness of truth.