Garda accused of sending defamatory letters and emails to distant cousin of Brendan Howlin

A garda has gone on trial accused of harassing a State solicitor by describing her as politically corrupt in a series of "hideous" and "vitriolic" letters and emails.

Eve Doherty (aged 49), a garda based in Dublin, has denied harassing Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 and making false statements claiming Ms Howlin was perverting the course of justice.