A woman has been charged with assisting the suicide of another woman in Dublin in 2011.

It is believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in Ireland.

Gail O'Rorke, 42, from Kilclare Gardens in Tallaght was charged that between 10 March and 6 June 2011 she aided, abetted, counselled or procured the suicide of 51-year-old Bernadette Forde in Dublin.

Dublin District Court was told she replied "not guilty" in response to the charge this morning.

She was sent forward for trial by jury to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

She was served with the book of evidence and will be brought before the court on 13 December.

The maximum penalty for someone found guilty of this offence is 14 years in prison.

The court heard gardaí had no objection to bail and no objection to her receiving legal aid.

She was remanded on bail on her own bond of €100.

Ms Forde was found dead in her apartment in Donnybrook on 6 June 2011.

An inquest into her death in March last year was adjourned. She had been suffering from multiple sclerosis.