Courts / Waterford / Report

Hospital resident found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity

Date
2016-11-04

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Waterford

Summary

Paul Cuddihy, 38, a former resident of St Otteran's Hospital, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 55‑year‑old Maria O'Brien and for assaulting fellow resident Mary Nugent and nurses Breda Fennelly, Terry Hayes and Mary Grant. The jury, after 39 minutes of deliberation, concluded that Cuddihy, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was in a psychotic episode when he stabbed O'Brien over 100 times and attacked the others. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital, with a return to court on 14 November for a treatment plan. O'Brien's family described her as kindhearted and loving, while forensic psychiatrists testified that Cuddihy's delusions and voices drove his actions and that he was unaware of their wrongfulness. The case highlighted the application of the Mental Health Act in determining criminal responsibility.