The nephew of a sex worker killed by an ex-soldier in Co Westmeath sayid today that she was a “caring person” who devoted her life to looking after her mother.

A retired member of the defence forces has been acquitted of murdering a prostitute in Co Westmeath four years ago but found guilty of her manslaughter.

A retired member of the Defence Forces accused of murdering a woman in Co Westmeath told gardaí he was being blackmailed by her for up to €40,000 or she would tell his wife.

The trial of a retired member of the Defence Forces, accused of the murder of an Athlone woman, has heard that he borrowed €1,000 from a garda a few weeks before the night of the woman's death.

The trial has begun at the Central Criminal Court of an Athlone man accused killing 37-year-old Marie Greene.