Courts / Roscommon / Report

Man cleared of murder bid by reason of insanity does not require inpatient care at CMH

Summary

A 35-year-old man from Baldoyle who was found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity has been assessed as not requiring inpatient care at the Central Mental Hospital. The Central Criminal Court heard on Wednesday that the man, charged with stabbing his former employer at The Elphin Pub on the Baldoyle Road in Sutton in January 2021, currently displays no symptoms of mental disorder. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Servaise Winkel told the court that inpatient treatment is not presently necessary, a view supported by Dr Stephen Monks, a consultant forensic psychiatrist engaged by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court made no further order. The accused had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the attempted murder charge and faced additional charges of assault causing harm and production of knives. The jury's verdict was delivered following evidence that the man had been experiencing paranoid delusions in the weeks prior to the incident.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man cleared of murder bid by reason of insanity does not require inpatient care at CMH. Charges or matters: the attempted murder of Paul Smith at The Elphin Pub on the Baldoyle Road in Sutton on January 28, 2021. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Acquitted

When:

• January 28, 2021 Incident
• 2023-02-23 Publication

Why: Dr Monks said that because of the severe impairment of Mr O'Dowd's judgement, he should be found not guilty of the charge by reason of insanity. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Finding Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report