A three and a half hour delay held up the trial of former chief minister Richard Corkill’s wife today.

Mrs Corkill denies four charges of false accounting and two of obtaining a total of more than ?90,000 by deception.

High Bailiff Michael Moyle said he didn’t want a repetition of today’s events when the case resumes tomorrow.

The problems began when joiner Paul Gavin revealed he’d kept a diary of work he’d done on the Ballacain cottages at the centre of the hearing.

He’d been asked by police to prepare a list of work he’d done for the Corkills, but in court said he had a much better record at home.

Mr Gavin told prosecution advocate Stuart Neal he’d kept meticulous records of his work at the holiday cottage development and the Corkill family home.

But his diary hadn’t been used by police during their investigation – a fact the High Bailiff criticised.

The trial was adjourned for three and a half hours while Mr Gavin went home to fetch the diary, court officials photocopied it and defence advocate Dawn Jones was given the chance to read it.

Mr Gavin will be cross-examined about his evidence tomorrow.