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Jury in trial of woman accused of attempting to help her friend commit suicide to continue deliberating tomorrow
Summary
The jury in the trial of Gail O'Rorke, 43, a taxi driver from Tallaght, is set to continue deliberations tomorrow. O'Rorke faces a single charge of attempting to help Bernadette Forde, 51, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, travel to Dignitas in Zurich to end her life. The jury spent three and a half hours today considering the evidence that O'Rorke tried to arrange the trip between March 10 and April 20, 2011, but the plan was foiled when a travel agent informed Gardaí. O'Rorke has pleaded not guilty. Last week Judge Patrick McCartan ordered the jury to acquit her of a second charge involving a lethal dose of barbiturates from Mexico and a third charge of procuring Forde's suicide by organising her funeral. The judge explained that the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence for these counts, and that O'Rorke's actions were too remote from the suicide to constitute aiding and abetting.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury in trial of woman accused of attempting to help her friend commit suicide to continue deliberating tomorrow. Charges or matters: attempting to aid and abet the suicide of Ms Forde by means of attempting to arrange travel to Zurich for such purpose between March 10 and April 20, 2011. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- March 10 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 20, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 5, 2011 Other
- 2015-04-27 Publication
Why: Judge McCartan told jurors that he was ordering not guilty verdicts in the final two charges because he agreed with the defence 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: attempting to aid and abet the suicide of Ms Forde by means of attempting to arrange travel to Zurich for such purpose between March 10 and April 20, 2011 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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