Murder accused had tried to hire killer before, court told

A woman accused of hiring an alleged killer to murder to violent partner told gardaí she had previously paid another man to have him shot, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Jacqui Noble, who is accused of hiring co-accused Paul Hopkins to murder Derek Benson, told gardai that she paid IR£500 (€634.90) to a northern man who had offered to have him shot. However, he disappeared with the money and nothing came of it, she said.