Woman serving life for murder launches appeal

A WOMAN serving life for luring a construction company chief to his death in 1998 has now begun an appeal against her conviction.

Mary Ryan, 39, enticed Manny O'Donnell, 53, to a quiet wooded spot where he was shot in the chest and head, and stabbed 22 times.

At a trial in 1999, Ryan, of Glasgow, was convicted of conspiracy to murder and murder. A murder charge against her lover Patrick Devine, 25, was found not proven.

Another accused, Frank O'Donnell, 39, of Glasgow - no relation to the victim - was convicted with Ryan of conspiracy and murder. He received a life sentence. Both are now challenging their convictions.

The case has been sent to the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates possible miscarriages of justice. It is alleged that information was not disclosed to the defence at the trial.

The appeal is expected to last several days, and the court will issue its decision later.