Courts / Mayo / Report

Jury have to consider whether double murder accused had mental disorder

Date
2017-07-24

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Ballina

County
Mayo

Summary

A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in a double murder trial concerning a 30-year-old man from Ballina, County Mayo. Alan Cawley has admitted causing the deaths of Thomas Blaine, aged 69, and John Blaine, aged 76, on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. However, he pleaded not guilty to murder, with the defence raising the partial defence of diminished responsibility. Justice Paul Coffey instructed the jury that they must consider whether Mr Cawley was suffering from a mental disorder at the time that substantially diminished his responsibility for the killings. The defence psychiatrist identified three conditions, whilst the prosecution's expert disputed one diagnosis and questioned whether the personality disorders constituted mental disorders under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. The jury, comprising four women and eight men, briefly deliberated before adjourning for the evening and will resume considerations the following morning.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury have to consider whether double murder accused had mental disorder. Charges or matters: murdering them on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. Procedural stage: trial

When:

10th July 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
2017-07-24 Publication

Why: Justice Coffey explained that whether the accused had caused the men's deaths was not an issue that would trouble the jurors. CNI source report