Courts / Kilkenny / Report
Accused was previously charged with threatening former partner, trial hears
Summary
Gerard Dowling, aged 40, of The Sycamores, Freshford Road, Kilkenny, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder of 60‑year‑old Simon Burke at Market Cross Shopping Centre on 13 July 2016. He also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to assaulting Mr Burke and to producing a knife during the same incident. Dowling has a long history of paranoid schizophrenia, having been admitted to hospital on several occasions since 1998. Psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that Dowling exhibited symptoms of paranoia and delusion, including grandiose beliefs about wealth and employment, and that he had sent threatening text messages to his former partner in 2015. She stated that Dowling's illness meant he did not understand that assaulting Mr Burke was morally wrong and that he had not taken his medication for many months.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Accused was previously charged with threatening former partner, trial hears. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- July 13, 2016 Incident
- 2017-10-25 Publication
Case subjects
Places mentioned
- Kilkenny
- Kilkenny Circuit Court
- Central Criminal Court
- Central Mental Hospital
Topics
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