Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Man who killed his mother committed to the Central Mental Hospital

Date
2013-12-20

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Kilkenny

Summary

A 32‑year‑old man from Kilkenny, Niall Stapleton, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his mother by reason of insanity. The trial, held earlier that week, heard that Stapleton had schizophrenia and had been diagnosed five years earlier, after a head injury a month before. He had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 51‑year‑old mother, Siobhan Stapleton, who died from blunt force trauma to the head. Forensic psychiatrists for both sides agreed he met the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Following the verdict, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan committed Stapleton to the Central Mental Hospital for preparation of a report by Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Damian Mohan. Mohan reported that Stapleton had been an inpatient for the past year, had suffered a head injury in 2008, and had been admitted to the hospital in June 2012 with severe auditory hallucinations.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who killed his mother committed to the Central Mental Hospital. Charges or matters: the murder of Siobhan Stapleton (51) at that address on May 25, 2012. Procedural stage: trial

When: