Dublin woman Gail O'Rorke has been acquitted by a jury of attempting to help a friend kill herself, by making travel plans to go to the Dignitas euthanasia clinic in Switzerland.

There were jubilant scenes in court as Judge Patrick McCartan told the Ms O'Rorke (43) she was free to go.

A cheer erupted and Ms O'Rorke wiped away tears as the jury returned after around seven hours of deliberations with a majority not guilty verdict.

Outside court, her husband Barry hugged her and said 'I can't believe it's over'.

The jury only had one charge to consider - whether she had attempted to help her friend - multiple sclerosis sufferer Bernadette Forde - take her own life by making travel arrangements to Switzerland where the euthanasia clinic Dignitas is based.

The evidence was that the booking was cancelled when the travel agent contacted gardaí.

Ms O'Rorke was not arrested at the time in April 2011 - but was subsequently charged after her friend took a lethal dose of barbiturates bought online from Mexico in June of that year.

Last Friday, Ms O'Rorke was cleared by direction of Judge McCartan on charges of assisting her friend's suicide by preparing her funeral arrangements and procuring the drugs that killed her due to a lack of evidence against her.

It was the first case of its kind in Ireland.

Now that Ms O'Rorke has been cleared, questions are likely to be asked as to why she was charged in the first place.