Courts / Dublin / Report
Jury unable to reach verdict in trial of woman who slit civil servant's throat
Summary
In a Dublin trial, 35‑year‑old Laura Kenna was charged with attempted murder and assault for slitting the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury heard conflicting psychiatric reports: one psychiatrist said Kenna was in a psychotic state and could not control her actions, while the other argued she knew what she was doing and was motivated by robbery. The jury deliberated for about four hours and forty minutes but could not reach a verdict. Judge Robert Eagar discharged the jury after a disagreement was recorded, and the case was remitted for a possible retrial in November. Kenna made no reaction to the announcement of the jury's failure to decide.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury unable to reach verdict in trial of woman who slit civil servant's throat. Charges or matters: the attempted murder of Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9 on January 3, 2017 and of assault intending to cause serious harm on the same occasion. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- January 3, 2017 Incident
- January 2017 Other
- 2018-10-24 Publication
Why: By Ms Kenna's own account, Prof Kennedy said the accused had gotten a sharp knife to rob somebody because she needed money and selected an appropriate victim. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: the attempted murder of Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9 on January 3, 2017 and of assault intending to cause serious harm on the same occasion (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity; The case was put back to November for a possible retrial.
Places mentioned
- Central Mental Hospital
- from Mountjoy Garda Station
- Mountjoy
- Drumcondra Road
- Drumcondra Road
- Dublin
- High Court
Topics
Stage Finding Theft Violent Crime
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