Hitman trial: Accused asks DPP to drop case

A woman accused of hiring a hitman to kill her partner and his two sons wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions asking him to drop the case against her for the good of her family a jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Ms Sharon Collins (aged 45), with an address at Ballybeg House, Kildysart Road Ennis and Mr Essam Eid (aged 52), an Egyptian man with a Las Vegas address have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to kill PJ, Robert and Niall Howard between August 1 2006 and September 26 2006. Ms Collins also denies hiring Mr Eid to kill the three men.