Courts / Wexford / Report

Woman who killed father (94) on his birthday is committed to CMH

Date
2023-05-04

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Enniscorthy

County
Wexford

Summary

A 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Portrane after a Central Criminal Court judge ordered her placement following a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Flood had pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday in 2019. A jury, after 48 minutes of deliberation, accepted evidence from two forensic psychiatrists that she was in a psychotic state and did not understand that her actions were wrong. The psychiatrists agreed she believed a voice of God told her her father was an imposter. Flood's father died two days after being stabbed, with a post‑mortem attributing death to congestive cardiac failure and a recent stab wound. The judge directed that Flood be treated at CMH in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman who killed father (94) on his birthday is committed to CMH. Charges or matters: the murder of her father, Patrick Flood, on April 14, 2019 by reason of insanity. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

April 14, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
April 20 Other
April 12 Hearing Or Sentence
2023-05-04 Publication

Why: The trial heard Ms Flood, who has paranoid schizophrenia, was in the throes of a psychotic state when she stabbed her elderly father to death on his 94th birthday because she believed the voice of God told her he was an imposter. CNI source report