THE jury in the trial of a Limerick taxi driver has been sent home for a second night having failed to reach a verdict.

The man is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged rape of a female passenger in the early hours of October 17, 2007.

The 43-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and sexual assault.

After almost seven hours of deliberating, the judge in the trial Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sent home the jury of eight men and four women.

The Jury will resume its deliberations on Tuesday.