The trial of a nurse who is accused of assaulting and poisoning two hospital patients has been transferred to the Dublin Circuit Court because of fears that she would not get a fair trial in the jurisdiction where the offences are alleged to have taken place.
Judge Raymond Groarke yesterday granted a defence application to have the case against Ms Noreen Mulholland, Runabeg Close, Kildare, moved from Naas Circuit Court to Dublin.
He noted the significant publicity the case had received inational and local media. The issue was whether there would be an injustice if she was to be tried at Naas Circuit Court.
"If the accused was convicted, would the accused feel that the accused had received a fair trial?" the judge asked.
He referred to the affidavit supplied to the court by a defence solicitor, Mr Robert Eager, which, he said, exhibited in clear terms the degree of emotion created by this case.
He was of the view that an injustice might result, or might be seen to result, if the case was tried in the jurisdiction.
He said he was transferring the case and remanded Ms Mulholland on continuing bail.
No date was set for her next court appearance.
On May 26th Ms Mulholland was charged with two counts of assault causing harm and two of administering a substance known to interfere with bodily functions.
The charges relate to two male patients who attended Naas General Hospital when she worked there in 2003.