Court archive
Her Central Criminal Court
2018-10-23 · Dublin
In the trial of Laura Kenna, a 35‑year‑old woman with no fixed abode, the jury paused its deliberations for the night. Kenna is charged with attempted murder and assault of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke, who was walking home from work on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Bourke was attacked with a knife, her throat slit and she suffered severe facial scarring. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. The court heard conflicting opinions from two Central Mental Hospital consultant psychiatrists regarding Kenna's state of mind. Mr Justice Robert Eagar explained that if the jury, on the balance of probabilities, found Kenna suffering from a mental disorder, the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity would be appropriate. If not, the jury must consider the prosecution's case beyond a reasonable doubt.
2018-10-22 · Dublin
In the trial of Laura Kenna, a 35‑year‑old woman of no fixed abode, a jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning. Kenna has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the attempted murder of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke, who was walking home from work on Lower Drumcondra Road in Dublin on 3 January 2017. The prosecution alleges that Kenna attacked Bourke with a knife, slitting her throat and causing severe facial scarring. The central issue is Kenna's state of mind at the time. Two Central Mental Hospital consultant psychiatrists gave conflicting opinions. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC emphasized that the prosecution must prove that Kenna acted with a knowing mind, citing statements she made after the attack.
2018-10-19 · Dublin
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard closing arguments in the trial of 35‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the attempted murder of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke. Kenna allegedly attacked Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017, slitting her throat and causing severe facial scarring. The prosecution, led by Anthony Sammon SC, argued that Kenna's mental state was a key issue and that she had a knowing mind when she acted, citing her own statements about using a knife to rob someone. The defence, represented by Barry White SC, urged the jury to consider whether Kenna was legally insane, relying on conflicting psychiatric opinions. Judge Robert Eagar outlined possible verdicts, noting that a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity would be appropriate if the jury found Kenna suffered from a mental disorder on the balance of probabilities.