The jury has gone out in the trial of Mark Nash, who is accused of a double murder in Grangegorman 18 years ago.

Mr Nash (42) with last addresses at Prussia Street and Clonliffe Road in Dublin denies killing Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan in March 1997.

After nearly three months at trial, the jury was sent out this afternoon to consider a verdict - but only for about 40 minutes.

Deliberations will resume in the morning.

Mr Nash is accused of stabbing to death Sylvia Shields (60) and Mary Callanan (61) between March 6th and March 7th in 1997.

The two women were living in sheltered accommodation attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman at the time.