Woman charged over husband’s death in 1988 weeps in court

A 59-year-old woman wept in court after telling gardaí “I’m innocent” when she was charged with assault with intent to murder her former husband who died after he was attacked in his south Dublin home in 1988.

Father-of-two Christopher Payne was attacked at 82 Rutland Grove, Crumlin, on May 13, 1988, by a group of men armed with a hatchet.

Mr Payne, who also suffered from a chronic kidney ailment, was treated in hospital for serious head injuries sustained in the assault but never recovered. He died six months later, aged 38.