Courts / Dublin / Report

Man had delusional disorder when he falsely imprisoned former work colleague and allegedly tried to murder her, psychiatrist tells trial

Date
2025-07-17

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 17 July 2025, the prosecution presented evidence that Jineesh John, 43, was suffering from a delusional disorder when he allegedly falsely imprisoned a former work colleague in his car, sealed the door handles with tape, threw hot chilli powder into her eyes, and threatened to kill her. John also threatened her with a hammer and demanded she record on a mobile phone that she had given him a sexually transmitted disease in 2021, despite no sexual contact. The defence sought a not‑guilty by reason of insanity verdict under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. Two consultant psychiatrists, one for each side, agreed that John was mentally ill at the time of the offence. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is set to continue tomorrow. Jineesh John pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man had delusional disorder when he falsely imprisoned former work colleague and allegedly tried to murder her, psychiatrist tells trial. Charges or matters: the attempted murder of a woman at a location in West Dublin on May 21, 2023; making a threat to kill or cause the woman serious harm without lawful excuse, intending her to believe that the said threat would be carried out on the same occasion; falsely imprisoning the woman by intentionally or recklessly detaining her without her consent at the same time; producing in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit a hammer on the same date, while committing or appearing to be about to commit an offence of false imprisonment of the woman. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

May 21, 2023 Incident
May 22 Incident
May 2021 Other
October 2022 Other
May 21 Other
October 2024 Other
Christmas 2022 Other
2025-07-17 Publication

Case subjects

Jineesh John

Defendant

Charges: the attempted murder of a woman at a location in West Dublin on May 21, 2023; making a threat to kill or cause the woman serious harm without lawful excuse, intending her to believe that the said threat would be carried out on the same occasion; falsely imprisoning the woman by intentionally or recklessly detaining her without her consent at the same time; producing in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit a hammer on the same date, while committing or appearing to be about to commit an offence of false imprisonment of the woman (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity

Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity