Courts / Dublin / Report

'Two people's lives were destroyed': family of woman killed by mentally ill partner speak of devastation and disbelief

Date
2025-12-19

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The family of Maud Coffey, a woman killed by her partner Austin Mangan during a relapse of his schizoaffective disorder, expressed devastation and disbelief over her death. They criticized the HSE Mental Health Services for not providing adequate care, as Mangan had not been taking his medication for three months before the incident. The family agreed with the jury's verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity but emphasized the need for improved mental health services. Mangan had sought help the day before the killing but was sent away with an appointment for the following week. The family described Maud as a 'loving and gentle creature' who had her own mental health struggles. They expressed the impact of her death on their family, including the loss of future plans and the difficulty in explaining her death to their children. The trial revealed that Mangan had a long-standing history of mental illness and had been admitted to mental health services on 30 occasions. The family called for changes to prevent similar tragedies and expressed their support for Mangan's recovery.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Two people's lives were destroyed': family of woman killed by mentally ill partner speak of devastation and disbelief. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

January 2023 Incident
January 18 Other
January 11, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
January 13, 2023 Other
2025-12-19 Publication

Why: " She added: "I had to explain to my children that their beloved aunt had died at the hands of the man who loved her, because he was unwell. CNI source report