Athlone woman found guilty of manslaughter

A 57- year old Athlone woman has been found guilty of manslaughter at Mullingar Circuit Court sitting in Tullamore today.

Agnes McCarthy of 118 Meadowbrook, Athlone, pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Lillian Scanlon at 17 Valley Court, Bonavalley, Athlone, between May 8 and 9, 2008.

The jury of seven men and five women found Ms McCarty guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to 2 following over five hours of deliberation.

In his closing statement on Wednesday, Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley, SC, counsel for the prosecution, told to the jury of five women and seven men that the onus was on the State to prove that Agnes McCarthy was guilty of the crime she was charged with.

He told the jury that the testimony of State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy was very important to the case.

Dr Cassidy told the court that the cause of death to Lillian Scanlon was “complex” and “firm and fairly forceful” pressure to the neck played a part in the death of the deceased. Dr Cassidy, however, added the kind of pressure she had referred to may or may not result in death.

The State Pathologist explained it depended on where in the neck the pressure was applied, with pressure in one area leading to instant cardiac arrest, while another form of compression to the neck can cause a lack of oxygen to the brain, leading to brain damage and death can take several minutes.

Judge Tony Hunt remanded Agnes McCarthy on bail, with conditions attached that she surrender her passport and sign on at Athlone Garda Station three times a week until her sentencing on July 5.

He thanked the jurors for their diligence and the attention to detail they displayed throughout the trial.

“While it is never easy I agree with your conclusion,” said Judge Hunt.

He exempted them from further jury service for ten years.