A mother-of-four shot herself after her lover refused to make a new life with her, an inquest at Cork Coroner's Court was told yesterday.
Ms Christina Hackett (31), of St Finbarr's Road, Cork, died on October 10th, 1998, after she was rushed to Cork's Mercy Hospital with a single gunshot wound.
The court heard that Mrs Hackett had been having an affair with Phillip McGinn (33).
Mr McGinn testified that he had given the woman a handgun to frighten her husband a few days before she died. He alleged that the woman's husband, Denis, had been beating her.
The court heard that Mr Hackett and Mr McGinn had been drinking in Cork city on the night of October 9th, 1998.
They returned to Mr McGinn's van at around 11 p.m., where Mrs Hackett reportedly said that she wanted to build a future with her lover.
" But I knew that she would never leave Denis - she loved him as well," said Mr McGinn.
He said that he asked her to shoot him because he couldn't cope with the pressure of the affair any longer.
"She said `what, like this?' pointed the gun to her head and I heard a bang. She had shot herself."
After the shooting Mr McGinn brought Mrs Hackett to the Mercy Hospital, where she died the following evening.
Mr McGinn said he had disposed of the handgun in the River Lee on his way to the hospital. The gun was not recovered in subsequent Garda searches.
Det Garda Ted Murphy testified that one shell was recovered from the van where the incident took place.
He said Mr McGinn received a two-year suspended sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. No further action on the incident was taken by the DPP.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Maire Cassidy gave evidence that the trajectory of the bullet and the proximity of the weapon to Ms Hackett's head suggested she had taken her own life. However, she would not rule out third party involvement.
Two men were arrested at yesterday's inquest after Mr McGinn was attacked. One of the men shouted that Mr McGinn was a "dead man walking".
Cork City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane conveyed her condolences to the Hackett family at their loss. The jury returned an open verdict in relation to Ms Hackett's death.
Speaking afterwards, the Hackett family called for a review of the case.