Courts / Kildare / Report
Jury deliberating in murder trial where psychiatrists disagree on insanity
Summary
A jury has begun deliberating on the case of Brian Ibe, 23, who was accused of murdering 65‑year‑old Mr Kennedy after the victim had taken Ibe's mother into his home. Ibe pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. Two defence psychiatrists, Dr Stephen Monks and Dr Gaurav Malhan, diagnosed him with schizophrenia, stating he could not control his actions and did not understand their nature. The prosecution's psychiatrist, Dr Mary Davoren, disagreed, diagnosing a dis‑social personality disorder and asserting Ibe met the criteria for the special verdict. The trial also covered Ibe's assault on Garda Brendan O'Donnell, for which he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice Melanie Greally instructed the jury to apply a "healthy skepticism" to the conflicting expert evidence and to consider diminished responsibility if the schizophrenia diagnosis is accepted but the disorder did not fully impair his control.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury deliberating in murder trial where psychiatrists disagree on insanity. Charges or matters: murder by reason of insanity. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- April 28, 2020 Incident
- May 2 Incident
- April 29, 2020 Incident
- Christmas Incident
- 2025-04-07 Publication
Why: However, Ms Justice Greally said there is a further conflict in the psychiatric evidence because Dr Davoren disagreed with the schizophrenia diagnosis. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murder by reason of insanity (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Places mentioned
- Moore Park
- Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station
- Newbridge
Topics
Related court reports
- Fraudster jailed for conning over €50k from elderly woman for garden work
- Brothers attacked man in toilet cubicle after Tyson Fury match 'banter'
- Lidl must pay €28k to warehouseman denied light duties after hernia
- Fraudster conned over €50k from elderly woman for garden work
- Nigerian 'Colonel and Major' get combined 16.5 years over 'worldwide, breathtaking' money laundering racket
- Pastor who embezzled €125k from own church has sentence cut on appeal
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request