The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by a woman against her conviction for the murder of a young man in Co Tipperary.
Deirdre Rose (21), of Clarisford, Killaloe, Co Clare, was jailed for life after being found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in May 2001 of murdering John Carroll, of Mullally Grove, Cappamore, Co Limerick, on December 4th, 1998, at Garraun, Ballinahinch, Newport.
She was also found guilty of assaulting Mr Carroll with intent to rob him on the same occasion.
During her trial it was stated that Mr Carroll died from serious injuries after being beaten up and struck on the head with an iron bar during the course of a robbery in which several men were involved.
At the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday, Mr Brendan Grogan SC, for Rose, said there was no evidence against his client to support the conviction, apart from two remarks made by her in a statement to gardaí.
Rose was alleged to have said to the victim's attackers to "look in his pockets". During the course of the attack on Mr Carroll, she was also said to have stated: "Mind the blood, lads". Mr Grogan said both comments did not mean Rose had condoned what was going on.
She was a frightened, terrified and scared young woman, he argued.
The evidence was that she had tried to stop the violence and was anxious that the victim get to hospital, counsel added.
Apart from these remarks, these was no evidence whatsoever to indicate that his client was a joint venturer in what occurred.
Mr Eamon Leahy SC, for the DPP, said he did not think the remark "mind the blood, lads" was open to any interpretation other than that Rose was an active participant, rather than a bystander, in what occurred.