Courts / Louth / Report

Murder accused claimed to be Jesus and that he had cured cancer, trial hears

Summary

A former girlfriend of Luke Donnelly, who admitted killing but denied murdering his mother, testified at the Central Criminal Court that he claimed to be Jesus and told her he had cured her cancer. Stacey Campbell said Donnelly's drug use and deteriorating mental health were major concerns. She described how he arrived at her home in Drogheda, claiming to be Jesus, and how she contacted gardaí for help. Donnelly, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, was said to have had a close relationship with his mother, Catherine Henry. Ms Campbell recounted that Henry was in good health on the day before her death and that Donnelly was acting strangely, claiming to be Jesus. She said she last saw Henry alive at around 8:20 am on May 22, 2023, and learned of her death the following day. The trial continues with further evidence being presented.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused claimed to be Jesus and that he had cured cancer, trial hears. Charges or matters: 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. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 23 Other
• Monday, May 22, 2023 Other
• November 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• Tuesday, May 23 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 24 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2026-01-23 Publication

Why: Stacey Campbell today told prosecuting counsel Garret Baker SC that she had known Catherine Henry for approximately ten years because she had been in a relationship with the deceased's son, Luke Donnelly, and they had a child together. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Worker sacked over punch-up with takeaway driver wins job back
• Legal first sees miscarriage of justice certificate for IRA membership conviction quashed
• Lorry driver who imported €1m in cannabis jailed for five years
• Explosive device allegedly stored in National Museum at Collins' Barracks
• On-bail home invader who dragged car owner along ground has sentence cut
• Amateur fighter who 'brutally killed' allegedly abusive mother - kicking her to death and stepping on her 'lifeless body' as he left her to die - gets 6.5 years

Read the original CNI report