Man jailed for life for murdering his mother while high on drugs

A 22-year-old man from Castlebar, County Mayo has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction for the murder of his mother at the Central Criminal Court. The accused had admitted manslaughter but pleaded not guilty to murder. A jury unanimously found him guilty of murder after approximately two hours of deliberation. The victim, a 46-year-old woman, was fatally stabbed on 9 March 2011 at their family home. Evidence presented during the eight-day trial established that the accused was under the influence of amphetamines, methamphetamines and cannabis at the time. The court heard testimony regarding the accused's long-standing substance abuse and psychological deterioration in the days preceding the killing. His defence submissions centred on arguments of diminished responsibility and lack of intent due to intoxication, both of which the jury rejected. The victim's family issued a victim impact statement expressing their devastation and hope that no other families would suffer similarly through drug abuse.