Courts / Donegal / Report

Native Irish speaker who bludgeoned grandfather to death committed to CMH

Date
2026-04-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Donegal

County
Donegal

Summary

A 39-year-old man from Gweedore in Co Donegal has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity in relation to the death of his grandfather. Derek Mulligan received the order at the Central Criminal Court on Monday after a jury returned majority verdicts on all counts in late March. The jury accepted psychiatric evidence that Mr Mulligan was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia when his grandfather, Derek Burns, aged 78, died at Carrickcoyle on 19 December 2023. A consultant forensic psychiatrist told the court that Mr Mulligan continues to suffer from the mental disorder and requires ongoing inpatient treatment. The defendant had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder and further charges relating to property damage and threats made two days prior, as well as two counts of assault. Justice Eileen Creedon accepted the medical evidence and committed him to the designated centre for continued care.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Native Irish speaker who bludgeoned grandfather to death committed to CMH. Charges or matters: sexual offending against several boys, including the defendant. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When: