A man charged with murder at Cavan General Hospital has been tried at the Central Criminal Court following allegations that he killed a fellow psychiatric patient in June 2011. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen, Co Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor at the hospital's psychiatric unit. During the trial, the court heard evidence from detective gardaí who interviewed the accused following his arrest. Notes from the interviews were read aloud, in which the accused allegedly described prior fantasies about imprisonment and harm to others before his hospital admission. The accused was further reported to have told gardaí that he had contemplated the killing for several days beforehand and that he had chosen the victim deliberately. The defence has indicated acceptance that the accused caused the death, with focus instead directed toward the question of his mental state at the time. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues before a jury.
A psychiatric patient has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of a fellow patient at Cavan General Hospital's psychiatric unit on 27 June 2011. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Cootehill, Co Cavan, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Michael Treanor, an 82-year-old man suffering from dementia. The prosecution told the jury that Harman approached a nurse that morning and stated he had smothered the deceased with a pillow. The nurse subsequently found Treanor without a pulse, and resuscitation attempts proved unsuccessful. The defence indicated that Harman accepts responsibility for causing Treanor's death and does not dispute the identity of the deceased, but submitted that the focus should remain on the accused's state of mind at the time. Evidence from gardaí and a forensic psychiatrist confirmed Harman's admissions and his fitness for interview. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury, is expected to last approximately one week.
A 28-year-old student has been further remanded in custody in connection with the death of archaeologist Emmet Connolly, who was fatally stabbed in Cootehill, County Cavan, in late September. Mr Connolly, aged 32 and from Rockcorry, County Monaghan, was discovered at a residence on Lodge View estate in the early hours of 29 September following an incident the previous evening. The accused, Kevin Moran, was charged with murder and made no reply when the charge was put to him. He appeared before Cloverhill District Court for his fourth hearing, where he was further remanded in custody. Consent to High Court bail has been granted but has not yet been taken up. The book of evidence remains incomplete and no plea has been entered. The matter will return before the court on 11 December.