Courts / Dublin / Report
Jury in assisted suicide trial directed to find accused not guilty of ordering lethal dose of barbiturates
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Patrick McCartan directed a jury of twelve to acquit Gail O'Rorke, aged 43, on two of the three charges against her in the assisted‑suicide case involving Bernadette Forde, aged 51. The jury was ordered to find O'Rorke not guilty of ordering a lethal dose of barbiturates from Mexico, which Forde later used to end her life, and not guilty of "procuring" Forde's suicide by arranging her funeral before death. O'Rorke remains charged with attempting to arrange travel to the Swiss euthanasia clinic Dignitas, a plan foiled when a travel agent alerted Gardaí. The judge cited insufficient evidence for the two charges, while both defence and prosecution delivered closing speeches before the jury began deliberations on Monday. The case remains at the jury stage.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury in assisted suicide trial directed to find accused not guilty of ordering lethal dose of barbiturates. Charges or matters: aiding and abetting the suicide of Ms Forde by helping her to procure and administer a toxic substance between April 20, 2011 and June 6, 2011 at a location in Dublin. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- April 20, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 6, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 10 Other
- June 4 Other
- 2015-04-24 Publication
Why: Judge McCartan told jurors that he was ordering not guilty verdicts in the final two charges because he agreed with the defence's argument that the prosecution has not produced enough evidence for the counts to go before a jury. Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: aiding and abetting the suicide of Ms Forde by helping her to procure and administer a toxic substance between April 20, 2011 and June 6, 2011 at a location in Dublin (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Pair jailed for preying on innocent shooting victim in 'vicious extortion racket'
- 'Fun loving' drug dealer jailed over possession of €90k in crime cash
- 'I'm doing my job as a mum': court hears exchange between mother and accused son
- Separated husband spared conviction despite alleged threat to throw former wife out window
- Serial criminal set car ablaze after release from Melanie McCarthy-McNamara manslaughter sentence
- Drug dealer further sentenced for 'crudely' laundering own crime cash
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request