Courts / Roscommon / Report
Man brings appeal against acquittal for murdering his mother in "very unusual" case
Summary
Paul Henry, a 29-year-old Roscommon man, brought an appeal against his acquittal for the alleged murder of his mother, Ann Henry, at The Spinney, Abbeystown, Roscommon, in September 2011. Henry had pleaded not guilty to the charge. At a previous Central Criminal Court sitting in Castlebar, a jury acquitted him of murder by reason of insanity. On May 7, 2014, Mr Justice Paul Carney ordered his commitment to the Central Mental Hospital. Today, in the Court of Appeal, Henry sought to appeal this acquittal. The three-judge panel, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, and Mr Justice John Edwards, raised immediate jurisdictional concerns. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Úna Ní Raifeartaigh SC, described the situation as very unusual, noting that the right to appeal typically arises only upon conviction. The judges observed that Henry was not a convicted person regarding the murder charge; rather, he was liable to detention at the State's discretion without a criminal record, meaning the State had vindicated his good name. Consequently, the court did not determine the appeal on its merits. The matter was adjourned and put back to March 5 next.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man brings appeal against acquittal for murdering his mother in "very unusual" case. Charges or matters: her murder at The Spinney, Abbeystown, Roscommon in September 2011. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- September 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 7, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 5 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-02-11 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: her murder at The Spinney, Abbeystown, Roscommon in September 2011 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: The case was put back to March 5 next.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Central Mental Hospital
Topics
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