A building in Dublin used as a hostel and described by a judge as a firetrap has been vacated, the High Court heard yesterday.

A mother of three allegedly murdered by her estranged partner was stabbed eight times with fatal blows piercing her liver, right lung and left femoral artery, a court has heard.

The judge in the murder trial of Joe O'Reilly today told the jury to ignore media reports of the case, as they are to reach their verdict only on the evidence they hear in court.