The People (Attorney-General) v Ellen Keogh

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Judgment Date: 16 June 1944
• Date: 16 June 1944
• Court: Court of Criminal Appeal

(C.C.A.),

The People (Attorney-General)

and

Ellen Keogh

Conviction for murder - Rider added to verdict - Whether rider part of verdict -Ambiguity of rider - Reasonable doubt as to what meaning jury intended to express - Conviction set aside - New trial ordered - Costs.

Accused, a married woman whose husband was working in England, was charged with the murder of her illegitimate child. M., the father of the child, was also charged with the murder, but was tried separately. Some time before the birth of the child M. came to live in the house of the accused, whose children and brother also lived with her. About a month after the birth the dead body of the child was found in a sack in a river near the house of accused. A piece...