Woman cleared of friend’s manslaughter but guilty of assault

A MOTHER of four has been acquitted of her close friend’s manslaughter outside the Rotunda Hospital two years ago.

Michelle Brannigan, 36, with an address at Hill Street, Dublin 1, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully killing Tracey O’Brien, 31, at Parnell Square West, Dublin 1, in June 2009.

The jury took over four hours on day four of the trial to find Brannigan not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of assault causing harm.