The trial of a nurse accused of assaulting and poisoning two hospital patients has been set for Naas Circuit Court on November 16th.
The book of evidence was served on Ms Noreen Mulholland (33), Runabeg Close, Kildare town, at Naas District Court yesterday. She was charged last May on two counts of assault causing harm and two counts of administering a substance known to interfere with bodily functions.
The charges relate to two male patients who attended Naas General Hospital when she was a nurse there in 2003.
John Gethings (77), Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, died at the hospital on March 1st, 2003. As part of the inquiry, his body was exhumed on July 25th. A post-mortem was carried out and toxicology tests processed at a UK laboratory. The other patient survived.
Ms Mulholland was then arrested and charged. She had been suspended from duty at Naas hospital when the allegations emerged. The South Western Area Health Board is also inquiring into the alleged offences.
Yesterday, Judge Murrough Connellan granted Ms Mulholland legal aid. She must sign on at Portadown Police Station on Mondays and Fridays and was requested to hand up her UK and Irish passports. Her bail bond was reset at €4,000.