Former Wicklow publican Ms Catherine Nevin pleaded not guilty to the murder of her husband, Mr Tom Nevin, when she was arraigned yesterday. Her retrial, in which she also denies three counts of soliciting men to murder her husband, will open today before Ms Justice Carroll at the Central Criminal Court.
Ms Justice Carroll told the jury panel yesterday morning that the trial that started on January 12th last, in which the jury had to be discharged through no fault of Mrs Nevin's but because the jurors could be overheard, had generated "considerable media comment". She said the accused in a criminal trial was entitled to the benefit of the doubt and to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. A jury of nine women and three men were selected to try the case.
Mrs Nevin (48) pleaded not guilty to the murder of her husband Thomas (54), on March 19th, 1996, in their home at Jack White's Inn, Ballinapark, near Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow.
She also denied that on diverse dates in or about 1989, she solicited Mr John Jones; that on various dates in or about 1990 she solicited Mr Gerry Heapes; and that on a date unknown in 1990 at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, she solicited Mr William McClean, to murder her husband. Legal applications delayed the start of the trial yesterday.
Ms Justice Carroll has continued until tomorrow her interim order banning publication of any comment on Mrs Nevin's appearance or demeanour and banning publication of any representation of her. Tomorrow, the judge will rule on submissions made by counsel for a number of newspapers on reporting restrictions she imposed following lengthy legal argument last week.