Courts / Dublin / Report

Judge to give attempted murder jury further directions

Date
2018-10-23

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In the trial of Laura Kenna, a 35‑year‑old woman with no fixed abode, the jury paused its deliberations for the night. Kenna is charged with attempted murder and assault of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke, who was walking home from work on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Bourke was attacked with a knife, her throat slit and she suffered severe facial scarring. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. The court heard conflicting opinions from two Central Mental Hospital consultant psychiatrists regarding Kenna's state of mind. Mr Justice Robert Eagar explained that if the jury, on the balance of probabilities, found Kenna suffering from a mental disorder, the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity would be appropriate. If not, the jury must consider the prosecution's case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge to give attempted murder jury further directions. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

January 3, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-10-23 Publication

Why: He explained that if it found, on the balance of probabilities, that Ms Kenna was suffering from a mental disorder as described, then the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity should be reached. CNI source report