Inquest jury agree Cynthia Owen gave birth to baby

The jury at the Dun Laoghaire baby inquest has found that the infant girl, found in a plastic bag in a laneway over thirty years ago, was Noleen Murphy, the daughter of Cynthia Owen.

When the verdict was read out at Dublin County Coroners Court today, there were loud cheers from Cynthia Owen and her family.

Following three and a half days of evidence and four hours of deliberation, the jury in this inquest returned a unanimous verdict.

All twelve members agreed that Cynthia Owen gave birth to the baby girl that was found dead in a plastic bag in Lees Lane in Dun Laoghaire.

They agreed that she was born on the fourth of April 1973 at Whites Villas in Dalkey.

The cause of death was haemorrhaging from stab wounds.

Due to the fact that the jury accepted Ms Owen's version of events the verdict of 'unlawful killing' was not open to them - that's because of a clause in the Coroner's Act.

An open verdict was returned.

Coroner Kieran Geraghty thanked the jury and said he hoped that baby Noleen would finally rest in peace.