Courts / Mayo / Report

Son who killed mother shouts at prosecutor during sentence hearing

Date
2020-11-16
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Castlebar
County
Mayo

Summary

A man convicted of murdering his mother in County Mayo almost a decade ago will be sentenced for her manslaughter in February following a Supreme Court ruling that overturned his murder conviction. The Central Criminal Court hearing was disrupted when the defendant, now aged 29, shouted abuse at the prosecutor while pathology evidence was being presented. The State accepted his plea to the lesser offence on the basis that intoxication can prevent the formation of the intent required for murder. The defendant was 19 when he fatally stabbed his mother multiple times in their home near Castlebar in March 2011. He had initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but a jury found him guilty of murder and he received a life sentence in 2014. The Supreme Court found the trial judge's direction to the jury on intoxication and specific intent was inadequate. Justice Michael White remanded the defendant in custody pending sentencing submissions on 8th February, and ordered the Probation Service to prepare a structure should release be considered.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Son who killed mother shouts at prosecutor during sentence hearing. Charges or matters: her manslaughter. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Why: Mr Gageby explained that his client had always become 'exercised' when his mother's injuries were mentioned. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 29-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: her manslaughter (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; A son, whose conviction for murdering his mother was overturned by the Supreme Court, will be sentenced for her manslaughter in February, almost a decade after he killed her in a drug-fuelled "frenzied knife attack". However, a jury found him guilty of her murder, and he was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment in February 2014.; He remanded him in custody until 8th February, when he will hear final submissions.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Supreme Court
  • Central Criminal Court
  • The Supreme Court
Secondary Mention
Facility
  • The house

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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