Courts / Dublin / Report

Man found not guilty of unprovoked assaults by reason of insanity is committed to Central Mental Hospital

Date
2016-11-17
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A man from Longford has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. David Egan, aged 35, faced charges of assault causing harm to two women in separate incidents in Dublin city centre on 14 April 2015. The court heard that Mr Egan has paranoid schizophrenia and was not taking prescribed medication at the time of the alleged assaults. He believed he was being hypnotised and sexually assaulted, and that the women were mocking him. A jury returned the special verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 after hearing from consultant forensic psychiatrists for both the prosecution and defence, who agreed Mr Egan did not understand the wrongfulness of his actions and was unable to control his conduct. Judge Martin Nolan ordered his detention at the Central Mental Hospital, where his treatment will be assessed and managed. The judge noted that release would be determined by the hospital's practitioners when appropriate.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man found not guilty of unprovoked assaults by reason of insanity is committed to Central Mental Hospital. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Case subjects

David Egan

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: He adjourned the case to today, when he made an order that Mr Egan be detained at the Central Mental Hospital. "It is up to the practitioners in the Central Mental Hospital and other relevant parties when Mr Egan is to be released.

Places mentioned

Facility
  • Central Mental Hospital
  • Beaumount Hospital
Court Venue
  • Mental Hospital. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • Dublin
Residence

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request