Ballymun murder trial is adjourned

The trial of two people accused of murdering a man in Ballymun has again been adjourned in the Central Criminal Court for legal reasons.

Ms Jacqui Noble, former partner of the deceased, Derek Benson, and Mr Paul Hopkins, a pub doorman, are jointly charged with murdering Mr Benson in Ballymun, Dublin in May 2000 in what the State allege is a contract killing.

Before the trial adjourned, the remaining portion of Ms Noble’s garda statement was read to the court. In it, she said she suspected her late partner had slept with a 13-year-old girl who spent the night in his Ballymun flat.

Ms Noble was not in the flat at that time. She also claimed that their daughter, also aged 13 at the time of the killing "often slept in the same bed as her father".

The accused alleges that Derek Benson beat her repeatedly throughout their relationship and that she was twice admitted to hospital after assaults.

The State's case is that Jacqui Noble, a mother of one from Ballymun, contracted co-accused Paul Hopkins for some £3,000 to murder Mr Benson.

The prosecution claims that she paid him £200 "up front", the balance to be paid after the murder.

The State contends that the murder was precipitated by Derek Benson's demands for part of an inheritance due to Jacqui Noble from her deceased parents' estate.

Jacqui Noble (aged 38) of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin and Paul Hopkins (aged 24) Sillogue Road, Ballymun have both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Derek Benson (aged 33) at Sandy Hill Avenue Ballymun on May 13, 2000.

Evidence is expected to resume before the jury next week.