Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Man went to psychiatric unit hours before stabbing stranger in head, trial hears

Date
2017-10-24

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Kilkenny City

Summary

Gerard Dowling, 40, with paranoid schizophrenia, went to St Luke's Psychiatric Unit in Kilkenny City on the morning of 13 July 2016, claiming he could not speak to anyone. CCTV shows he entered at 10:08 and left at 10:22. Hours later he stabbed 60‑year‑old Simon Burke at Market Cross Shopping Centre. Dowling pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder, assault causing harm and possession of a knife. He said he had stopped his medication in January and sometimes heard voices. Burke was struck in the head and shoulder; a knife fragment remains in his head and he suffered a broken finger. Dowling claimed he did not know Burke and that his actions were influenced by voices. The trial is before Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man went to psychiatric unit hours before stabbing stranger in head, trial hears. Procedural stage: trial

When:

July 13, 2016 Incident
2017-10-24 Publication

Why: The accused, Gerard Dowling, told gardai that on the morning of the assault he went to the Department of Psychiatry (DOP) in St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny City before mid-day because he was feeling paranoid and hearing voices. CNI source report