The jury has been hearing the closing arguments from David Sutton, the defence lawyer of Essam Eid.

Sharon Collins, of Kildysart Road in Ennis, and Essam Eid, an Egyptian with a Las Vegas address, have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to kill PJ Howard and his sons, Robert and Niall, between August 1st and September 26th 2006.

Mr Sutton has told the jury of eight men and four women that the State's case against Ms Collins and Mr Eid has been an enormous case with more witnesses and rows than he has ever seen.

He said the State's case was based on identification and, when Robert Howard gave a description to Gardai of a man alleged to be Mr Eid, who approached him looking for money, he described a clean-shaven, pale-skinned man.

However, when Robert Howard was then asked to pick out the same man from an identity parade, he picked Mr Eid, a sallow-skinned man with a moustache, Mr Sutton said.

Mr Sutton told the jury that, if they have any doubts as to who approached Robert Howard on his doorstep, then they must consider that and they must give the defendant the benefit of that doubt.

Mr Sutton also attacked the witness for the State, Theresa Engles, whom he described as self-serving and conniving and said she sat in court with the stone face of a liar.