Right-to-die activists refuse to make deposition

TWO Americans suspected of assisting in the suicide of a Dublin woman have refused to give a deposition that could be used as part of the case to have them extradited to face trial in Ireland.

Reverend George Exoo and his live-in partner Thomas McGurrin were asked to give sworn statements to a federal court in their home state of West Virginia but their lawyers advised against it. Two gardaí are in West Virginia gathering evidence against the two Americans, who have admitted being with Rosemary Toole Gilhooley when she died in a rented apartment in Donnybrook, south Dublin in late January.

Rev Exoo claims he and his partner were in the same room but did not physically assist Ms Gilhooley to kill herself, meaning they did not commit a crime under West Virginia law. Although not returning calls last night, Rev Exoo confidently told the Irish Examiner recently that the case against him was “dead”. Days later he received the summons to appear before the court.