A nurse has been convicted by a jury of assaulting two elderly patients at Naas General Hospital and of poisoning one of them three years ago.
Noreen Mulholland (35), Park Road, Portadown, Co Armagh, previously of Runabeg Close, Kildare, has been remanded by Judge Frank O'Donnell for sentence on December 4th.
The jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court unanimously found Mulholland guilty on Friday of poisoning John Gethings (77), Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, on March 1st, 2003.
On Saturday the jury convicted her by 11-1 majority of assaulting him causing him harm on the same occasion. Mulholland was also convicted on Saturday by 10-2 majority, of assaulting Séamus Doherty (80), Rathcoffey, Naas, Co Kildare, causing him harm between June 18th-19th, 2003, but was found not guilty of poisoning him on the same occasion.
The jury delivered its first conviction following nine hours of deliberation on Friday after its first night in a hotel.
It delivered its second guilty verdict in relation to Mr Gethings just after 4.30pm on Saturday following a further eight hours deliberations and a second overnight stay at a hotel.
The final two verdicts in relation to Mr Doherty came just over two hours later, giving a total of 19 hours and 14 minutes deliberations.
It was day 20 of the case.
Judge O'Donnell praised the jury for its dedication and diligence with what he said was a most difficult case and exempted the six men and six women from further jury service for life.
Mulholland had pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly administering a substance, Serenase, to Mr Gethings and to Mr Doherty, without their consent and knowing it was capable of interfering substantially with their bodily functions,.
She also denied assaulting both men, causing them harm on the same occasions.
Orla Crowe, prosecuting barrister, told the jury that Mr Gethings died on March 2nd, 2003, but she emphasised that it was not the State's case that Mulholland was responsible for his death.
Judge O'Donnell remanded Mulholland on bail for sentence after being told by defence counsel, Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha SC that Mulholland was not seeking this and was prepared to be remanded in custody.
Mr Ó Lideadha said he would be urging the court to impose the most lenient sentences possible on Mulholland, including non-custodial options.