Courts / Laois / Report
US national described 'in detail' how he strangled father with bare hands, jury told
Summary
Henry McGowan, a 31-year-old US national, described in detail how he strangled his 66-year-old father with his bare hands, putting a full fist into his throat, just over an hour after arriving at a five-star midlands resort. The prosecution's case outlined that McGowan had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his father by reason of insanity. The trial heard that McGowan was under the delusion that the person he was killing was not his father but an imposter. Expert psychiatrists for both the prosecution and defense agreed that McGowan was experiencing a relapse of schizoaffective disorder when he killed his father. The prosecution's barrister, Will Fennelly, outlined that McGowan had previously encountered mental health challenges and had not been taking his medication. McGowan arrived at Dublin airport on November 11, 2024, and was later found at the Ballyfin Demesne hotel where he killed his father. McGowan told gardai that he had killed his father and that he had strangled him in a bathroom. The unnamed accused was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: US national described 'in detail' how he strangled father with bare hands, jury told. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- November 12, 2024 Incident
- November 11 Other
- November 12 Incident
- 2026-02-10 Publication
Why: In the meantime, counsel said John McGowan was en route from the US because his son Henry had been in phone communication from Paris with his family in the preceding days. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Clinton Street
- Mater Hospital
- of Portlaoise Garda Station
- Portlaoise
Topics
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