Woman found not guilty of handling stolen paintings

A woman who had been accused of handling stolen paintings from the Beit Collection at Russborough House has been found not guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Ms Rosemary Quinn (aged 48) of St Aongus Park, Tallaght, Dublin, wept in court after the jury of eight men and four women confirmed the unanimous verdict, following four hours' deliberations and an overnight stay in a hotel. It was day nine of the trial.

Ms Quinn had denied handling the paintings, Madame Baccelli by Thomas Gainsborough and A View Of Florence by Bernardo Belotto, on June 26, 2001. The paintings were valued at €2.6m.

Judge Michael White told Ms Quinn she was free to go from the court and thanked the jury for its service during what he said was a difficult trial. He excused them from service for 10 years.