Judge in trial of Offaly GP accused of killing her daughter tells jury leave all emotion to one side

The judge in the trial of an Offaly GP accused of killing her severely disabled daughter has asked the jury to leave all emotion to one side.

Bernadette Scully has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Emily Barut at Emvale, Bachelor’s Walk in Tullamore on September 15th 2012.

Just before bringing his closing arguments to an end, defence barrister Ken Fogarty described this trial as an “emotional rollercoaster”.

He told the jurors that no one envied the decision they’d soon have to make and described their job as the hardest of any jury.

Earlier, Tara Burns, who’s acting for the prosecution, invited them to find her guilty of her daughter’s manslaughter. She said Ms. Scully had a duty of care to her as her mother and GP, and breached that duty through an act of gross negligence involving the administration of an excessive dose of Chloral hydrate – a sedative that can be used to control seizures.

This afternoon, Mr. Justice Patrick McCarthy asked the jurors to leave all emotion to one side and approach the case in a cool and collected manner.

Tomorrow, he’ll continue to sum up the evidence and the seven women and five men will then be asked to consider whether the 58-year-old is guilty or not guilty.

ENDS