A man charged with the murder of his parents in Carndonagh, County Donegal in October 2014 has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Evidence heard today indicated that Julian Cuddihy's family had sought psychiatric intervention in the weeks preceding the deaths of Kathleen and James Cuddihy. A detective garda from Buncrana told the court that the accused's father had cancelled a mental health appointment six days before the incident. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Damian Mohan testified that the accused's parents held concerns about stigma and forced hospitalisation. The court heard that the accused experienced severe delusions, including beliefs about poisoning, alien abduction, and voices commanding him to harm family members. State pathologist evidence detailed multiple head wounds inflicted with an axe and additional stab wounds. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan and jury.
Source links
Original report plus public source leads and related archive reports used for review context.
Public source leads
- Family of paranoid schizophrenic wanted to get psychiatric help for him in the weeks before he killed his parents with an axe, court hears - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Wed, 08 Jun 2016 07:00:00 GMT
- CARNDONAGH MAN SAID HE HEARD VOICE IN HIS HEAD TELLING HIM TO KILL HIS PARENTS - Donegal Daily Donegal Daily · Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:46:34 GMT
- CARNDONAGH MAN WHO KILLED PARENTS WITH AXE 'NOT GUILTY' OF MURDER - Donegal Daily Donegal Daily · Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:46:33 GMT
- Donegal man who killed parents with axe believed he was helping them into Heaven - Irish Examiner Irish Examiner · Mon, 20 Jun 2016 07:00:00 GMT
- Man who killed parents with axe found not guilty by reason of insanity - The Journal The Journal · Thu, 09 Jun 2016 07:00:00 GMT
- Man who killed parents with axe committed to mental hospital - The Irish Times The Irish Times · Mon, 20 Jun 2016 07:00:00 GMT
Related court reports
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Donegal man who killed parents with axe found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
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