Roscommon man who stabbed his mother to death is committed to Central Mental Hospital

A 29-year-old man from Roscommon has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital following his acquittal on grounds of insanity for the 2011 stabbing death of his mother. The Central Criminal Court heard that the accused admitted to the killing but was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a jury deliberated for one hour and 36 minutes. Expert psychiatric evidence presented during the trial indicated the man suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, which substantially impaired his capacity to form criminal intent at the time of the offence. An approved medical officer from the Central Mental Hospital told the court that the accused has been receiving treatment since September 2011 and continues to hold delusional beliefs regarding his mother. The doctor noted partial response to treatment but expressed concern about non-compliance if discharged from hospital care. Mr Justice Tony Hunt ordered the man's commitment to the Central Mental Hospital, emphasising he would be treated as an unwell person subject to ongoing supervision and six-monthly progress monitoring.