A jury of six men and six women unanimously found that Owen was the mother of the murdered infant discovered in a laneway in Dun Laoghaire. Owen claims the infant was conceived as a result of sexual abuse in the family home. The jury also found that the infant died at the family home in White's Villas in Dalkey and that the cause of death was haemorrhage due to stab wounds. They returned an open verdict on the infant's death.

Owen's family have consistently refuted the allegations of sexual abuse and murder, including the claim the infant was stabbed to death with a knitting needle by a woman in the family home before its body was dumped.

When contacted, the solicitor for Owen's father and three of her sisters confirmed they were considering their legal options.

"Our clients are considering their legal position and we are taking their instructions, " said Sharon McElligott, representing Peter Murphy snr, Catherine Stevenson, Esther Roberts and Margaret Stokes.

The legal option available to the family is to seek a judicial review of the coroner's findings at the High Court and apply for the inquest to be held again. Papers to the High Court have not as yet been filed. If the High Court upheld the family's claim that the inquest ruling was incorrect, a second inquest must be held.

Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty said he did not expect to have to hear the inquest again. "I've never had to hear an inquest again and I don't expect to in this case, " he told the Sunday Tribune.

"All 12 jurors were unanimous in their decision so it would be difficult."