Man who killed parents believed he was "sending them to heaven", trial hears

A 44-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court, charged with killing his parents at their home in Churchtown, Carndonagh, Co Donegal in October 2014. The accused admits to the killings but claims he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and believed he was facilitating his parents' entry to heaven. The prosecution outlined that two consultant psychiatrists would testify that the defendant experienced delusions and heard commanding voices, which he felt compelled to obey, thereby negating his capacity to refrain from the acts. Evidence will also be presented regarding the discovery of the deceased at the family home and findings from the State Pathologist concerning fatal head trauma sustained by both victims. The trial before Justice Margaret Heneghan and jury continues.