Courts / Kerry / Report

Man suffering with insanity killed mother with hatchet, murder trial hears

Date
2022-10-14

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Lixnaw

County
Kerry

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Dunne, aged 29 and autistic, admitted killing his mother Susan Dunne, 62, with a hatchet, inflicting five fatal blows to her head while she lay in bed. The prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed he was insane as defined by law at the time of the murder. The trial, described as unusual, will focus on evidence of the assault, the hatchet found in the kitchen with Dunne's DNA, and the circumstances leading to the killing. The case also involves testimony about Dunne's routine of collecting her son's disability allowance and his unaccompanied driving. The jury will consider whether Dunne was not guilty by reason of insanity based on the psychiatric assessments. The trial will resume on Tuesday before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of five men and seven women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man suffering with insanity killed mother with hatchet, murder trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering his mother Susan Dunne (62) between November 26 and 27 2013, both dates inclusive, at the same address. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 26 Hearing Or Sentence
November 27 Hearing Or Sentence
November 2013 Incident
2022-10-14 Publication

Why: "Because of that various neighbours were alerted and they went around to the Dunne house," he said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Susan Dunne

Defendant

Charges: murdering his mother Susan Dunne (62) between November 26 and 27 2013, both dates inclusive, at the same address (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: The accused was released from garda detention and then formally charged with the offence of murder in November 2013.; Counsel added: "He didn't have sufficient capacity to understand what was going on and was remanded for treatment to a psychiatric facility.