The study was led by researchers from Queen’s University Belfast.

Cliona Ward, 54, a green-card holder, who has been living legally there for around 30 years, first ran into legal trouble in March after arriving back in the US from a trip to Ireland to visit her ill father in Youghal, Co Cork.

A former member of the Defence Forces fired blank bullets from a decommissioned firearm at his wife in their home in Co Donegal, Letterkenny Circuit Court heard