Jury retires for night in hospital murder trial

A jury has been sent to a hotel overnight after failing to reach its verdict in the trial of a man accused of murdering an AIDS patient who was stabbed to death in his hospital bed.

After more than two hours deliberating in the trial of Patrick Gilraine (aged 50) of Basin Street, Dublin 8, the jury were sent away until tomorrow morning.

Mr Patrick Gilraine (otherwise known as Kilraine) has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Kevin Dowler (aged 52) at St James's Hospital, Dublin on 7 February, 2000.

The jury has heard evidence over four days at the Central Criminal Court that Mr Gilraine walked into the hospital and stabbed Mr Dowler seven times, causing fatal injuries to his lungs and liver.

Gilraine claimed his victim was a paedophile and that he "had to do it" to "save other kids".

In his direct evidence he said he never meant to kill him and intended to harm him to keep him in hospital.

"I went about it the wrong way," he said.

Mr Gilraine was a friend of the deceased and lived close to him in the Basin Street flats area of the city.