A MOTHER of two convicted of hiring a hitman to kill her wealthy partner and his two sons will be sentenced on November 3rd, a court ruled yesterday. Two psychological reports have been carried out on Sharon Collins, whose murder plot was foiled when the would-be assassin tried to blackmail his target to call off the hit.
Three months ago a jury found the 45-year-old of Kildysart Road, Ennis, Co Clare guilty of conspiring to kill PJ, Robert and Niall Howard in 2006.
Her co-accused, Essam Eid, an Egyptian-born poker dealer with a Las Vegas address, was convicted of demanding €100,000 with menace from Robert Howard on September 26th, 2006. Collins used the email address lyingeyes98@yahoo.ie to arrange the hit, the court heard. Despite deliberating for almost 11 hours, the jury could not reach a verdict on the charges of conspiracy against Eid.
Paul O’Higgins, for Collins, told Mr Justice Roderick Murphy that a psychological report on his client was completed last week. He said there had been confusion over the ordering of the report and both the Court Service and Department of Justice had arranged for separate psychologists to meet Collins.
The Dublin Central Criminal Court heard that the court was awaiting a medical report for Eid.
The 52-year-old was also found guilty of handling a stolen laptop and being in possession of stolen items. Eid was cleared of robbing the offices of Downes Howard.
David Sutton SC, for Eid, asked for the sentencing date to be adjourned for four weeks. Collins and Eid have been in custody since they were found guilty on July 9th.
Throughout the seven-week trial, the jury heard how Collins created the internet alias “Lying Eyes” and logged on to Hitmanforhire.com, where she made contact with Tony Luciano, otherwise known as Essam Eid. An elaborate plan was made for Eid to fly to Ireland to kill PJ Howard and his two sons, Robert and Niall, for $90,000 (€66,000). Neither Mr Howard nor his sons were in court for yesterday’s mention.