Woman sought €5k from murder accused for abortion, jury hears

A woman sought €5,000 from the man now accused of her murder for an abortion, the Central Criminal Court heard today. The prosecution alleges that Anne Shortall was killed by Roy Webster following a dispute over a pregnancy and a prior sexual encounter. Webster, aged 40 from Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on April 3, 2015 at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. His plea was not accepted by the State. During evidence, a witness testified that he received a message in late March 2015 requesting €5,000 for an abortion, intended for another man named Steven Armstrong who knew both Ms Shortall and the accused. Ms Shortall's daughters told the court she left her home without her phone or cigarettes on Good Friday, which they found unusual. Text messages indicated she was to meet someone associated with Ashwood Kitchens at a local pub, but she did not return.