Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Kilkenny man found not guilty of murdering Mairead Moran by reason of insanity

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Shane Smyth, aged 29, was found not guilty of murdering shop worker Mairead Moran, aged 26, by reason of insanity. The jury was told the facts were not disputed and heard forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testify that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent. The judge explained that a verdict other than not guilty by reason of insanity would reject the psychiatric evidence. After 55 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered Smyth to be detained in the Central Mental Hospital and excused the jurors from future service. No other charges or outcomes were reported in the article.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Kilkenny man found not guilty of murdering Mairead Moran by reason of insanity. Charges or matters: murdering Mairead Moran (26) on May 8, 2014 at the Market Cross Shopping Centre in Kilkenny City; murdering Ms Moran by reason of insanity. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Acquitted

When:

• May 8, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 15 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 8 Incident
• March 10, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 9, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-02-08 Publication

Why: Dr Wright diagnosed Mr Smyth with "paranoid schizophrenia" and told the court Mr Smyth did not have the capacity to form intent because of his mental disorder and did "not understand the nature and quality of his actions at the time. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Stage Finding

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Read the original CNI report