Courts / Mayo / Report

"I just shot the aul lad…I'll be going to jail now": Man accused of murdering elderly father had paranoid schizophrenia, court told

Date
2014-05-29

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Claremorris

County
Mayo

Summary

John Biggins, 35, of Ballynalty, Cross, Claremorris, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Carney, accused of murdering his father, Thomas Biggins, 70, at that address on May 6, 2012. The accused entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC stated the defence of insanity is being raised, with the burden on the accused to prove insanity. The court heard the accused was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and on disability allowance. Evidence indicated the victim was shot twice with his own legally held shotgun in his yard; Prof Marie Cassidy identified a shotgun wound to the left chest as the cause of death. Det Sgt James Carroll testified that the accused handed himself in at Ballinrobe Garda Station after calling 999, stating, "I just shot the aul lad…I'll be going to jail now." He was co-operative during detention. The accused told gardai he had contemplated suicide and had searched websites on how to kill himself. A hangman's noose and two ropes were found in a barn loft. The accused has no previous convictions. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "I just shot the aul lad…I'll be going to jail now": Man accused of murdering elderly father had paranoid schizophrenia, court told. Charges or matters: murdering Thomas Biggins (70) at that address on May 6, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 6, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
May 3 Hearing Or Sentence
May 6 Hearing Or Sentence
2014-05-29 Publication

Case subjects

John Biggins

Accused

Charges: murdering Thomas Biggins (70) at that address on May 6, 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Det Sgt Carroll agreed the behaviour after the event was "quite bizarre" and the accused said immediately afterwards "I just shot the aul lad…I'll be going to jail now." He said the accused rang 999 and spoke to Garda Mark Kilbride telling him: "Hello garda, I'm turning myself in, I shot my father." The accused then drove to Ballinrobe Garda Station and handed himself in where he was co-operative throughout his detention.