The High Court is being asked to rule whether the conviction of Catherine Nevin for murdering her husband can be used against her in a legal row about their joint assets.

The 61-year-old, who is serving a life sentence in the Dochas Centre, maintains she had nothing to do Tom Nevin's killing at Jack White's pub near Brittas Bay in Co. Wicklow back in March 1996.

The widow sold the bar in 1997 for £620,000.

Her right to a share of the assets is being challenged by Tom Nevin's brother and sister - Patrick Nevin and Margaret Lavelle.

They argue that Catherine Nevin should not profit from her wrongdoing.

Several appeals

The 61-year-old was convicted of her husband's murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in 1999 after a lengthy trial.

She was also found guilty of soliciting 3 men to kill her husband for which she received a 7-year sentence.

The High Court is being asked to decide whether her murder conviction can be used as evidence against her in the upcoming legal battle over assets.

Mr. Justice Roderick Murphy has been told that Catherine Nevin has already exhausted several appeals both here and at the European Court of Justice.

However her lawyers have argued that the row over assets should be put on hold to allow her pursue a fresh Supreme Court challenge.

In her new bid to clear her name it will be claimed that her case raises a point of law of exceptional public importance.