Irish court to rule on Marie Fleming 'right to die' case 10 January 2013 Last updated at 06:34 Ireland's High Court is due to rule later on a landmark assisted suicide case brought by a woman who is terminally ill with multiple sclerosis. The case being taken by Marie Fleming is the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland. The 58-year-old former lecturer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986. She is seeking to establish her partner's legal right to help her die, if and when she chooses. Suicide was decriminalised in the Republic of Ireland in 1993. However, the ban on assisting another person to commit suicide remains in force and a jail sentence of up to 14 years may be imposed for that offence. Ms Fleming, a former lecturer at University College Dublin (UCD), is cared for by her partner, Tom Curran, at their home in County Wicklow. The mother of two adult children is challenging the constitutionality of the Criminal Law Suicide Act 1993, alleging it discriminates between able-bodied and disabled people. She has asked the court for a declaration that the section of the act is invalid. Failing that, she wants the Republic's Director of Public Prosecutions to outline the criteria used in deciding on a prosecution in cases of assisted suicide. Palliative care experts, including a professor of medical ethics, were among a number of experts who gave evidence during the six-day hearing which concluded on 13 December. Ms Fleming also gave evidence from a wheelchair to the three judges who left the judge's bench and sat on the press benches in order to hear her. Ms Fleming said she had spoken to her children. There were a lot of tears shed and questions asked. But they see me and how my life has deteriorated. "And they are very, very supportive," she said. Tom has promised to help me, only if it's lawful. Otherwise, I will die a horrible death which could take months or even a year. In closing arguments, Michael Cush SC, for the state, said there was no right to suicide under the Irish constitution. He said the policy outlawing assisted suicide was justified to protect vulnerable people from involuntary death. Later on Thursday, a High Court panel of three judges will give their judgment on the challenge to Ireland's absolute ban on assisted suicide.