Courts / Cavan / Report
Man on trial for murdering pensioner in psychiatric unit pleads guilty to manslaughter
Summary
A man accused of murdering an elderly patient at Cavan General Hospital has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. Ian Harman, aged fifty, of Carrickallen, Mountain Lodge, Cootehill, changed his plea during trial proceedings regarding the death of Michael Treanor, an eighty-two-year-old man, on June 27th, 2011 at the hospital's psychiatric unit in Lisdarn. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the manslaughter plea under Section 6 of the Criminal Law Insanity Act, which permits a finding of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan discharged the jury and remanded Harman in custody pending sentencing scheduled for October 6th. The defence had argued Harman was suffering from a mental illness following the abrupt withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication after his admission as a voluntary patient. Medical evidence was presented regarding whether this withdrawal caused a psychiatric condition affecting his culpability for the killing. Ian Harman pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man on trial for murdering pensioner in psychiatric unit pleads guilty to manslaughter. Charges or matters: murdering Michael Treanor (82) at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital, Lisdarn, Co Cavan on June 27, 2011; murder but guilty of manslaughter. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- June 27, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 6 Adjournment
- June 20, 2011 Adjournment
- 2014-07-18 Publication
Why: " Harman also told the detective that he believed he had his "wits about him" at the time of the 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
Defendant
Charges: murdering Michael Treanor (82) at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital, Lisdarn, Co Cavan on June 27, 2011; murder but guilty of manslaughter (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Sheehan remanded Harman in custody for sentencing on October 6 next.
Defendant
Charges: murder but guilty of manslaughter (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Mr Justice Sheehan remanded Harman in custody for sentencing on October 6 next.
Places mentioned
- Cavan General Hospital
- Central Criminal Court
- and cautioned at Cavan garda station
- Cavan
Topics
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