Attempted murder charge reviewed after death of woman

By David Young, Press Association

The death of a woman after 16 months in a vegetative state has prompted prosecutors to review the charge facing a man accused of attacking her.

Mother-of-one Joleen Corr, 27, sustained severe brain injuries in the incident at her Downpatrick home in Co Down in late 2016.

Her death on Thursday at the Northern Ireland Hospice in Belfast came after a landmark court judgment that ruled that treatment sustaining her life should be withdrawn due to the pain she was suffering.

Michael O'Connor, 32, is on remand in prison awaiting trial for the attempted murder of Ms Corr and grievous bodily harm.

O'Connor, originally from west Belfast but with an address given as Maghaberry prison, denies the charges.

A spokeswoman for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said: "We have been informed of the very sad news of the death of the victim in this case.

"The attempted murder charge currently against a 32-year-old man is now to be reviewed. We will continue to keep the victim's family informed of all significant developments in this case."

Ms Corr's mother Carol said her daughter's death had broken her family's heart.

"We were prepared but it didn't change the way it happened, it was still a shock, it still broke our hearts," she told BBC Radio Ulster.

"The special moment I had was when the nurse lifted Joleen up and put her into my arms. That was a special moment when she took her last three breaths, she was in my arms.

"It was a great comfort to be surrounded by all my family and her best friend was there too."