Courts / Dublin / Report

Man who stabbed mother to death would have been "unable to refrain from his actions" at the time, psychiatrist tells trial

Summary

A forensic psychiatrist testified that 32‑year‑old Fionn Braidwood, charged with stabbing his 65‑year‑old mother Jane Braidwood to death on 20 January 2015, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and would have been unable to refrain from his actions at the time. Braidwood pleaded not guilty to the murder and to assault charges against Ceili Braidwood and Anthony Maguire. The prosecution argued for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Witness Anthony Maguire described hearing Ceili call for help, seeing Braidwood standing passively, and later being punched and attacked. The court heard a post‑mortem showing three stab wounds to Jane Braidwood's chest. Dr Brenda Wright, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, presented a report detailing Braidwood's history of psychiatric admissions, medication non‑compliance, and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, concluding he was acutely mentally unwell at the time of the offence. The trial proceeded before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who stabbed mother to death would have been "unable to refrain from his actions" at the time, psychiatrist tells trial. Charges or matters: murdering his mother Jane Braidwood (65) on January 20, 2015 at the same address; murdering Ms Braidwood; assault causing harm to Ceili Braidwood and Anthony Maguire at the same address and on the same date. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

• January 20, 2015 Incident
• January 2014 Incident
• July 2014 Incident
• October 30 Other
• November 2014 Incident
• January 15, 2015 Incident
• May 2015 Incident
• 2016-12-05 Publication

Why: Mr Maguire told the court he was walking near Clarinda Park East when he heard Ceili Braidwood shouting for help because her mother had been stabbed by her brother. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Finding Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report