Nevin has mobile phone case adjourned

CONVICTED murderer Catherine Nevin had her case for alleged possession in prison of a mobile phone adjourned yesterday.

Her solicitor applied for an adjournment pending Nevin’s appeal against her conviction, in 2000, for the murder of her husband.

She was taken to Dublin District Court yesterday morning where she was charged with the phone possession offence.

When her case was called, Nevin, with dyed blonde hair, walked up the stairs from the holding area wearing a long navy woollen coat, black boots and a cream floral silk scarf. She stood before a packed courtroom for what was a short period.

Judge William Early was told a date had been set in the Court of Criminal Appeal next January for Nevin’s appeal to her murder conviction.

Her solicitor, Patrick Gibbons, said her appeal is seeking a declaration that her conviction was a miscarriage of justice.

Nevin had been due to enter a plea in relation to the mobile phone charge relating to an alleged incident in Dochas Women’s Prison last January. The previous year the Government had introduced legislation cracking down on the use of mobile phones in prison.

Mr Gibbons told the court that, depending on the outcome of her appeal, it could be argued the current charge of possession of a mobile phone becomes moot.

Her appeal is due to be heard on January 19. Judge Early adjourned the phone offence to January 21.

Nevin was found guilty after a 42-day trial in April 2000 of the murder of her husband Tom at their pub, Jack White’s Inn, Brittas Bay, in March 1996.

The Court of Criminal Appeal will hear Nevin’s application for an order requiring the DPP to answer the question whether three witnesses at her trial, William McClean, Gerard Heapes and John Jones, were ever state informers, or if Mr McClean had paramilitary connections.

She also wants the DPP to disclose material and documents which she claims are relevant to her claim of a miscarriage of justice.