Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused (20) does not have mental disorder, trial hears

Summary

In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 20‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Dunbar, accused of stabbing a homeless man 183 times, was examined by consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright. She stated that Dunbar was intoxicated at the time of the alleged offence and that, if not intoxicated, he would not have behaved as he did. Dr Wright found no mental disorder qualifying for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. She described Dunbar's experiences of hearing voices and seeing outlines of faceless bodies as pseudo‑hallucinations caused by substance use, noting his voluntary use of alcohol, cannabis, prescription pills, and other drugs. She concluded that intoxication is excluded as a mental disorder under the Criminal Law Insanity Act and that Dunbar's blackout was partial. The defence closed its case after her testimony, and the jury will hear closing speeches on Tuesday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused (20) does not have mental disorder, trial hears. Charges or matters: the murder of Adam 'Floater' Muldoon (23) at Butler Park in Jobstown Park, Tallaght on June 22 or June 23, 2018. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 22 Other
• June 23, 2018 Other
• 2020-10-23 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report