National court archive ยท 2026-03-27
Native Irish speaker found not guilty of murdering grandfather by reason of insanity
At a glance
- Crime
- murder
- People
- Derek Mulligan, Derek Burns, Ronan Mullaney, Stephen Monks, Eileen Creedon
- Locations
- Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, Gweedore, Co Donegal, Donegal Gaeltacht, Portrane, Letterkenny
- Court
- Central Criminal Court
- Outcome
- not guilty by reason of insanity
Summary
A Central Criminal Court jury found Derek Mulligan not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering his grandfather Derek Burns in the Donegal Gaeltacht. The majority verdict followed psychiatric evidence that Mulligan was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and met the criteria for the special verdict. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon committed him to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane and ordered a psychiatric assessment.
Original reporting: courtsnewsireland.ie