Man who beat neighbour to death with crowbar is committed to CMH

A 32-year-old man from Sligo has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity for the death of his neighbour. Richard McLaughlin was found not guilty of murdering a 20-year-old man at Connolly Street in Sligo on 24 February 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that McLaughlin broke into the victim's home and fatally assaulted him with a crowbar whilst experiencing delusions caused by paranoid schizophrenia. Evidence from two consultant forensic psychiatrists confirmed McLaughlin was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and did not understand his actions were wrong. Justice Carmel Stewart accepted psychiatric evidence and committed McLaughlin to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum for inpatient care. His detention is expected to be lengthy, with his condition to be reviewed by the Mental Health Review Board every six months.