This article is from page 13 of the 2008-07-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
SHARON Collins wrote three letters to the Director of Public Prosecu- tions, asking that she not be charged and that she be allowed to get on with her ordinary life.
She sent the detailed letters to James Hamilton, on March 13, April 28 and May 25, 2007.
In the first of the letters, Ms Collins said she was referring to her arrest on February 26, 2007.
She said she was writing the letter, with encouragement from her hus- band but against the advice of her solicitor, and said the “whole thing 1s a nightmare beyond belief”.
She spoke of her family, her contact with Maria Marconi and her relation- ship with PJ.
“I’d rather be dead than subject my- self to this. My life is in shambles.
My husband has been told by gardai that I’ve paid money to have him killed but he does not believe it,’ she Sr HLGE
“The thing is, being charged is un- bearable for me. I do believe some- one out there has the capability of setting me up and it had to be done for financial gain.
“Who would want a family killed in one go? It doesn’t make sense to me,” she said.
In the lengthy letter, she went through her life story, explaining how she had married Noel Collins, with whom she had two sons, Gary (23) and David (21). They separated when she was 27.
She met PJ Howard in November 1998. “He was lonely and, like a lot of men, needed a woman to look af- ter him and share his life,’ she said.
“IT loved him and still do very
much. He’s very good to me. I in- vested nearly eight years of my life with him,” she stated.
‘“T’m amazed at how supportive he’s been. He has been told I tried to get him killed yet he still supports me. He knows it’s not true. I am thank- ful of his support at this darkest of times,” she said.
“PJ always looks after me extreme- ly well. It’s just that he wants to look after his business for his sons,’ she said.
She said that both PJ and herself could be “abrasive. We both like to believe we are always right”.
She explained that around the time they met, PJ bought an apartment in Feungirola, Spain. In 2000, he had a quadruple bypass operation and this was a “‘very stressful time” for them.
Some time after, PJ bought a boat in Spain and called it “Heartbeat” on
the suggestion of a friend, after his medical experience.
She explained that PJ’s estranged wife, Teresa, died suddenly from a brain hemorrhage in February 2003 and this was a very sad time for eve- ryone.
She said that as time went on, she realised it was now possible to marry PJ, but he wasn’t keen.
They both agreed it would be vital to have a pre-nuptial agreement if they were to marry.
She said that PJ proposed to her in January 2004, but this was short- lived as his solicitor told him pre- nuptial agreements had no standing in Irish law.
She said they went to Sorrento in October 2005 and after they arrived home they threw a party for family and friends.
She said that a detective said to her
that in 23 years he had never seen so much evidence stacked against someone.
While she admitted she had done “stupid things .. . it all seems so far- fetched”.
“PJ’s son Robert now blames me for all the hassle. I had a fantastic re- lationship with him. He was a cross between a son and best friend,’ she ene e
“Robert is an exceptional young man. I doubt our relationship will be built again. They now hear their sur- rogate mother wants them dead. It’s unbearable,” she added.
“T love PJ Howard. We have a great life together. He took another man’s children into his home and looked after them extremely well. Is this the kind of man any woman would want to kill?” added the letter.