Courts / Kildare / Report
No evidence that murder accused was 'feigning' mental illness symptoms, psychologist tells trial
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Dr Marie English, a clinical psychologist, testified that she found no evidence that Brian Ibe, aged 23, was feigning or exaggerating schizophrenia symptoms during the murder of Peter Kennedy, a 65‑year‑old man, on 28 April 2020. Ibe, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was admitted to the Central Mental Hospital in 2023 after being on the waiting list since 2020. Dr English defined feigning as fabrication or gross exaggeration of symptoms and, after conducting various tests, concluded there was no evidence of such fabrication. The prosecution maintains that Ibe does not meet the legal criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. Ibe also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about 29 April 2020, where the Garda was left with a bloody nose and a bruise under his eye.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: No evidence that murder accused was 'feigning' mental illness symptoms, psychologist tells trial. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 28, 2020 Incident
- May 12 Incident
- April 29, 2020 Incident
- 2025-03-28 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Gda O'Donnell has testified that Mr Ibe became uncooperative and aggressive during his detention and punched him, leaving him with a bloody nose and a bruise under his eye.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Central Mental Hospital
- Moore Park
- Moore Park
- Newbridge
- Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station
- Newbridge
Topics
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