Courts / Kildare / Report

Psychiatrist now agrees that man jailed for 16 years for murder had mental disorder

Summary

Yusif Ali Abdi, the appellant, is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his 20-month-old son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare, on April 17, 2001. Abdi has pleaded not guilty to the charge. His previous murder conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal earlier this year after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2013. The current proceedings focus on the insanity defence, with the State and defence largely agreeing on the issue. Dr Damian Mohan, a consultant psychiatrist, testified that he now agrees with other experts that Abdi was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offence, a view he did not hold during the 2003 trial. Mohan stated that Abdi met the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, as he was unable to refrain from committing the act. This aligns with the testimony of Dr Alex Quinn and Dr Aggrey Washington Burke, who also concluded Abdi fulfilled the criteria for the special verdict. The court heard that Abdi was admitted to the Central Mental Hospital on four occasions between 2001 and 2013 for various psychiatric conditions, including psychotic depression and suicidal ideation. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Psychiatrist now agrees that man jailed for 16 years for murder had mental disorder. Charges or matters: murdering 20-month-old Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare on April 17, 2001. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• April 17, 2001 Hearing Or Sentence
• August 1999 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 19, 2003 Other
• November 1999 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 2001 Other
• May 2003 Other
• September 2005 Other
• May 2007 Other
• October 2013 Other
• 2019-12-12 Publication

Why: The witness said Mr Abdi was first admitted to the CMH in November 2001 until May 2003 and the reason for his admission was psychotic depression. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report