Bail for assisted-suicide accused

A Tallaght woman who has been charged with assisting the suicide of another woman appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

Gail O’Rorke, aged 42, of Kilclare Gardens, had been sent forward from Dublin District Court on a charge that between Mar 10, 2011, and Jun 6, 2011, she aided, abetted, counselled or procured the suicide of Bernadette Forde.

She is believed to be the first person in the State to be prosecuted under Section 2 (2) of the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993.

Ms O’Rorke’s defence team requested a long adjournment because they said there is extensive disclosure in the case.

James Dwyer BL, prosecuting, told Judge Mary Ellen Ring that Ms O’Rorke’s case is quite a novel one and confirmed that gardaí were handing over the video tapes of her interview to her defence team.

“Novelty or not, the ordinary rules of disclosure should be completed by the next date,” the judge replied before setting an arraignment date for Mar 27, when Ms O’Rorke is expected to either plead guilty or elect for a trial date.

Judge Ring remanded her on continuing bail and said the State should comply with their obligations by the next date.