Courts / Dublin / Report

Man who stabbed father to death with bayonet was suffering from mental disorder, jury hears

Date
2014-05-08

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old Dublin man, Edward Boylan Jnr, was charged with killing his 74‑year‑old father with a World War I sword. He admitted stabbing his father 13 times, then setting fire to the apartment. Both sides presented psychiatric evidence. The prosecution's Dr Sally Linehan testified that Boylan Jnr had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and later schizoaffective disorder, and that he believed his father's eyes were changing colour, a sign of threat, which led to the fatal act. She argued he was in an active phase of mental illness and could not control his actions, meeting the criteria for a special verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity." The defence's Dr Paul O'Connell also confirmed Boylan Jnr's psychosis at the time of the killing. The case is before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of seven men and five women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who stabbed father to death with bayonet was suffering from mental disorder, jury hears. Charges or matters: his murder on January 6th or 7th 2012 at Ravensdale Close, Crumlin. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 6th Other
2014-05-08 Publication

Why: He explained that if they turned black, it meant they would kill him; if they turned red, it meant they were evil; and if they turned sea blue, it meant they would torture him. CNI source report