Tallaght woman in court accused of assisting suicide
A Tallaght woman who has been charged with assisting the suicide of another woman appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.
Gail O’Rorke (aged 42) of Kilclare Gardens had been sent forward from Dublin District Court on a charge that between March 10, 2011 and June 6, 2011 she aided, abetted, counselled or procured the suicide of another, namely Bernadette Forde.
It is believed that she is the first person in the State to be prosecuted under Section 2 (2) of the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993.
Ms O’Rorke’s defence team requested a long adjournment because they said there is extensive disclosure in the case.
James Dwyer BL, prosecuting, told Judge Mary Ellen Ring that Ms O’Rorke’s case is quite a novel one and confirmed that gardaí were handing over the video tapes of her interview to her defence team.
“Novelty or not, the ordinary rules of disclosure should be completed by the next date,” Judge Ring replied before she set an arraignment date for March 27, next when it is expected that Ms O’Rorke will either plead guilty to the offence or elect for a trial date.
Judge Ring remanded her on continuing bail and said that the State should comply with their obligations by the next date.
