Native Irish speaker found not guilty of murdering grandfather by reason of insanity

A 39-year-old man from Gweedore in County Donegal has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity following a majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court. The defendant was charged with killing his 78-year-old grandfather at Carrickcoyle on 19 December 2023 using a granite stone and cement block. Two psychiatrists gave evidence that he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time and met the criteria for the special verdict. The jury of twelve deliberated for over two hours before returning majority verdicts on all five counts, including charges related to property damage and assault on two other individuals, all on the same basis. Justice Eileen Creedon committed the defendant to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane with immediate effect and ordered a psychiatric assessment. He is scheduled to return to court on 31 March.