Jury retires to hotel in nurse trial

The jury in the trial of a nurse accused of poisoning two elderly patients has been sent to a hotel overnight after failing to reach a verdict on day-18 of the hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Ms Noreen Mulholland, aged 35, now living in Park Road, Portadown, County Armagh and previously of Runabeg Close, Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Mr John Gethings, aged 77, of Baltinglass, County Wicklow on March 1, 2003 and Mr Seamus Doherty, aged 80, Rathcoffey, Naas, County Kildare, between June 18-19, 2003.

She also denies intentionally or recklessly administering a substance, Serenase, to both men on the same dates knowing it was capable of interfering substantially with their bodily functions without their consent.

Ms Orla Crowe BL, prosecuting, has told the jury that Mr Gethings died on March 2, 2003 but emphasised that it was not the State’s case that Ms Mulholland was responsible for his death.

Judge Frank O’Donnell sent the jury away after the six men and six women had been deliberating for three hours and 47 minutes. The jury is scheduled to resume deliberations at 10am tomorrow.