Courts / Louth / Report

Murder accused admits causing multiple fractures to mother's skull, jury told

Date
2026-01-22

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dundalk

County
Louth

Summary

A man who admits killing but denies murdering his mother accepts that he caused multiple fractures to her skull and that he left a blood-stained footprint on her back, a trial jury has heard. Luke Donnelly (29), of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Catherine Henry (62) at her apartment on Bridge Street in Dundalk, Co Louth on a date unknown between May 23 and 24 2023. Garret Baker SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the panel would also hear that the accused was behaving in an erratic way before the killing, including by repeatedly asserting that he was 'Jesus Christ' and the son of God. The prosecution's case is that Mr Donnelly went to his mother's address on Bridge Street early on the morning of May 23 and that the deceased was murdered at that location. The court will also hear evidence from a State pathologist who had conducted a postmortem on May 25, which found extensive blunt force trauma to Ms Henry's face and head.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused admits causing multiple fractures to mother's skull, jury told. Procedural stage: trial

When:

May 23 Hearing Or Sentence
May 22 Other
May 24 Hearing Or Sentence
May 25 Hearing Or Sentence
2026-01-22 Publication

Why: He explained that the State's case would be that Mr Donnelly had gone to his mother's address on Bridge Street early on the morning of May 23 and it is the prosecution's contention that the deceased was murdered at that location. Prosecution account reported by CNI