Courts / Roscommon / Report

Roscommon man who stabbed his mother to death is committed to Central Mental Hospital

Summary

Paul Henry, 29, of Roscommon, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was charged with murdering his mother, Ann Henry, at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan, in Roscommon town on September 17, 2011. Mr Henry pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder by reason of insanity. During the trial, defence counsel called Professor Tom Fahey, who diagnosed a delusional disorder, while the prosecution called Dr Brenda Wright, who diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after one hour and 36 minutes of deliberation. At the sentencing stage, Dr Damian Mohan, an approved medical officer at the Central Mental Hospital, testified that Mr Henry continues to suffer from paranoid schizophrenia and requires inpatient care to prevent deterioration and risk to others. Mr Justice Tony Hunt accepted the evidence, stating that Mr Henry must be treated as an unwell person rather than a criminal. The judge ordered that Mr Henry be committed to the Central Mental Hospital under the supervision of Dr Mohan and his staff, noting that this inpatient care is necessary until he is no longer a danger to himself or others.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Roscommon man who stabbed his mother to death is committed to Central Mental Hospital. Charges or matters: murdering his mother Ann Henry at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan in Roscommon town on September 17 2011; murdering Ms Henry by reason of insanity. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• September 17 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-02-18 Publication

Why: " Dr Wright said at the time Mr Henry did not have the capacity to form intent because of his mental disorder. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Court refuses to reduce sentence for brothel keeper caught with child abuse material
• Cage fighter convicted of Shannon murder gets hearing date for miscarriage of justice application
• Strokestown assault conviction overturned by High Court
• Cage fighter seeks to have murder conviction declared a miscarriage of justice
• Ukrainian man left with serious head injury after unprovoked fire extinguisher attack
• Judge asks for information on allegation that garda photographed whistleblower in court

Read the original CNI report