THE widow of the Co Wicklow publican, Mr Thomas Nevin, told the High Court yesterday she had nothing whatsoever to do with his murder.
Mrs Catherine Nevin also said she had been detained and interviewed by gardai for about 48 hours last July.
Asked if she had considered herself to be a suspect because of the way gardai questioning her, Mrs Nevin said she did not.
Mr Henry Burke SC, for her mother in law, Mrs Nora Nevin, also asked her yesterday if she had inquired from gardai whether or not she was still a suspect. Mrs Catherine Nevin said she had not.
Mr Burke said Mrs Nora Nevin alleged Mrs Catherine Nevin was still a suspect. Mrs Nevin replied that she was guilty of nothing to do with her husband's murder. "I had nothing whatsoever to do with it."
Mr Justice Shanley adjourned a decision until today in a dispute between Mrs Nora Nevin and Mrs Catherine Nevin over the processing of Mr Nevin's estate of £250,260. Mr Nevin (54), was fatally wounded by a shotgun at his pub, Jack White's Inn, near Brittas Bay, on March 19th, 1996. Nobody has been charged in connection with his death.
Mr Nevin's mother, Mrs Nora Nevin, who is from Co Galway, has entered a caveat to prevent his widow from administering the estate. Mr Nevin died intestate and without children.
When the case was before the High Court last week, Mr Barry White SC, for Mrs Catherine Nevin, said she had been advised that legally she was entitled to all the estate.
She had instructed her solicitors to prepare papers for probate. Last August, she was informed that a caveat had been entered by solicitors acting for Mrs Nora Nevin.
Mrs Catherine Nevin is now seeking a court order setting aside the caveat entered by her mother in law.
Mr White submitted that whether or not there was a Garda investigation was irrelevant. Whether or not the widow might have been interviewed in the course of that investigation was immaterial.
Mr Burke had said last week it appeared from an affidavit of Mrs Nora Nevin, which was not opened in court, there was an ongoing investigation. Mrs Catherine Nevin had been detained and questioned on more than one occasion in relation to that and as a result of the investigation a file had been sent to the DPP, who was considering it.
Following legal submissions yesterday, Mrs Catherine Nevin went into the witness box for cross examination by Mr Burke. She said she had sworn two affidavits, on January 31st and March 6th last.
Asked if it was true her husband died in violent circumstances Mrs Nevin said he had been murdered.
Asked if she was in the public house when her husband was murdered, Mrs Nevin said she was in the bedroom, she had retired to bed. The bedroom was adjoining the premises. She had left her husband downstairs.
Mr Burke said in her second affidavit Mrs Catherine Nevin had stated she was detained once and once only in July, 1996, pursuant to section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and released without charge. Mrs Nevin replied that that was correct.
When Mr Burke asked what she had been questioned about Mrs Nevin replied that she did not understand the implications of the question. Asked if there was a question and answer session, Mrs Nevin said there were a lot of suggestions put to her which she could not agree to a lot of very untrue suggestions.
Asked by Mr Burke if she was being asked questions about her husband's death or if suggestions were made about his death, Mrs Nevin said there were a lot of suggestions made to her about her husband's death.
Asked if she denied involvement in his death, Mrs Nevin said she had made a full and total statement within a couple of hours of his murder and told gardai everything she knew. She had nothing more to add.
Mr Burke asked Mrs Nevin what answer she had given to the gardai. Did she simply refer them to the statement she had made within a couple of hours of her husband's death? Mrs Nevin said she had referred to the full statement made after her husband's death and referred the gardai to her solicitor.
Mrs Nevin said Jack White's Inn was being managed by her. Nobody had sought to interfere with the running of the premises. She said that after her husband's death she was informed by the bank that their joint account had been closed. She had no access to it. She had been informed by the bank that it would be closed until after her husband's probate had gone through. She had had to borrow. It was very difficult.
Mr Burke submitted there were peculiar and unique circumstances in the case. His client also had rights. His client had stated on affidavit that Mrs Catherine Nevin remained a suspect.