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Murder accused told doctors that release of abuser Michael Ferry caused him to 'spiral'

2026-03-25 · Letterkenny, Donegal · Central Criminal Court

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Derek Mulligan, aged 39, of Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg in County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his 78-year-old grandfather, Derek Burns, at Carrickcoyle on December 19th, 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that two psychiatrists have given evidence at the trial, testifying that Mr Mulligan was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time and meets the criteria for the special verdict. Both experts told the court that Mr Mulligan had experienced auditory hallucinations for many years, and that he had ceased taking prescribed antipsychotic medication before the incident. Evidence was also presented that Mr Mulligan had been sexually abused during childhood and that the release from prison of his abuser in 2021 had significantly affected his mental health. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.

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