Courts / Cavan / Report

Psychiatric patient on trial for murdering fellow patient said he considered killing his neighbours, trial told

Summary

A man charged with murder at Cavan General Hospital has been tried at the Central Criminal Court following allegations that he killed a fellow psychiatric patient in June 2011. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen, Co Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor at the hospital's psychiatric unit. During the trial, the court heard evidence from detective gardaí who interviewed the accused following his arrest. Notes from the interviews were read aloud, in which the accused allegedly described prior fantasies about imprisonment and harm to others before his hospital admission. The accused was further reported to have told gardaí that he had contemplated the killing for several days beforehand and that he had chosen the victim deliberately. The defence has indicated acceptance that the accused caused the death, with focus instead directed toward the question of his mental state at the time. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues before a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Psychiatric patient on trial for murdering fellow patient said he considered killing his neighbours, trial told. Charges or matters: the murder of Michael Treanor at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital, Lisdarn, Co Cavan, on June 27, 2011. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 27, 2011 Incident
• 2014-07-10 Publication

Why: " The accused also told the detective that he believed he had his "wits about him" at the time of the alleged offence and that he chose Mr Treanor as his alleged victim, who had been suffering from dementia, because the 82-year-old was an "easy target". CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report