Courts / Dublin / Report

Accused attacked woman with intention of killing her, psychiatrist tells trial

Date
2019-02-27

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin trial, 37‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who has no fixed abode, is charged with attempted murder and assault causing serious harm after attacking Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the key issue is Kenna's mental state. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks testified that Kenna suffers from schizoaffective disorder, a chronic illness related to schizophrenia, and had been homeless since 2013. He described a pattern of violent assaults on homeless service users in Belfast, including two attempted eye‑gouges, and an attack on a woman at a Luas stop a few weeks before the alleged murder. Monks argued that Kenna's attack on Burke was driven by delusions of death, vampires and cannibalism, not robbery, and that she could not control her actions. The jury will consider these conflicting psychiatric opinions before deciding on the verdict.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Accused attacked woman with intention of killing her, psychiatrist tells trial. Charges or matters: attempting to murder Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road, in Dublin, on January 3, 2017 and assault causing serious harm on the same occasion. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 3, 2017 Incident
2019-02-27 Publication

Case subjects

Laura Kenna

Accused

Charges: attempting to murder Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road, in Dublin, on January 3, 2017 and assault causing serious harm on the same occasion (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty