Courts / Laois / Report

Murder accused demanded child for sacrifice on plane, jury hears

Summary

A trial has heard that Henry McGowan, accused of murdering his father John McGowan at a five-star resort in Co Laois, suffered from schizoaffective disorder and was under the delusional belief that his father needed to be sacrificed to protect the plane. Two psychiatrists testified that McGowan was experiencing an acute psychotic episode and met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial heard that McGowan had previously lunged at a family on a flight to Paris in 2022, believing he needed to sacrifice an infant to prevent a war. He was involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Paris for 28 days and later received long-term antipsychotic treatment in the US. McGowan's mental state was described as profoundly psychotic, with delusions that his father was an imposter involved in a conspiracy. He believed he was ordained by God to kill his father, who he saw as a source of evil. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence and the possibility of a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused demanded child for sacrifice on plane, jury hears. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

• November 12, 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 17, 2025 Other
• 2026-02-12 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Finding Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report