Courts / Offaly / Report
Polish officials watching case of driver found guilty despite meeting insanity criteria, court told
Summary
In a case watched by the Polish Embassy in Dublin, Polish national Dariusz Alchimionek, aged 44, was found guilty of manslaughter and assault causing harm to Adam Gorman, the brother of 19‑year‑old John Gorman, after a vehicle he drove collided with their car on 29 December 2015. The incident occurred while the brothers were returning from Tullamore. Alchimionek claimed he believed the Islamic State would invade Europe and trigger a world war. Consultant psychiatrists for both sides agreed he met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity, yet the jury, after 2 hours 50 minutes of deliberation, returned a 11‑1 guilty verdict on both counts. He was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. Alchimionek has appealed, arguing the verdict was "perverse" and seeking treatment in the Central Mental Hospital. The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for 24 January, with the Polish Embassy observing the proceedings.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Polish officials watching case of driver found guilty despite meeting insanity criteria, court told. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- December 29, 2015 Incident
- October 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 24 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-11-30 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity; The accused was then sentenced nine years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Judge Keenan Johnson in October 2017.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Co Offaly. Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court
- Tullamore
- Barrow Way
- Spa
- Spa Street
- Portarlington
- Tullamore
- Central Mental Hospital
Topics
Related court reports
- Ex-priest's fully suspended sentence for violent sexual assaults of vulnerable woman is overturned
- Priest who abused victim as he drove her to Rape Crisis Centre gets suspended sentence
- Driver committed to Central Mental Hospital after manslaughter verdict declared "perverse"
- Man committed to Central Mental Hospital after killing verdict declared "perverse"
- Court "compelled" to quash driver's manslaughter verdict in "exceptional" case
- Jury's verdict in manslaughter case "perverse", lawyers say
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request