Courts / Dublin / Report

Mental health system has let two families down, victim's family tell insanity hearing

Date
2019-06-06

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Lucan

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 June 2019, the family of Bryan Cassidy, who was stabbed to death by his 21‑year‑old stepson Adam Nolan, presented a victim impact statement. The statement criticised the Irish mental health system for failing two families, noting that Nolan had been sent home from Tallaght Hospital after an A&E visit where he claimed he had to kill Cassidy. Despite a family history of mental illness and a diagnosis of drug‑induced psychosis, Nolan was discharged and later stabbed Cassidy on 7 February 2018. Nolan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to the Central Mental Hospital pending a report. The court, with counsel Sean Gillane SC and defence Brendan Grehan SC, heard statements and medical testimony, and Justice Eileen Creedon ordered Nolan's commitment under the Criminal Law Insanity Act.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mental health system has let two families down, victim's family tell insanity hearing. Procedural stage: trial

When:

7th February Hearing Or Sentence
2019-06-06 Publication

Why: Adam Nolan carried out the stabbing two weeks after being sent home from A&E, where he had gone because he felt he 'had to kill' Bryan Cassidy, whom he had loved as a stepfather. CNI source report