Courts / Westmeath / Report
Care assistant describes moment she entered home of vulnerable client to find him covered in blood
Summary
A care assistant described the moment she entered the home of her vulnerable and partially blind client to find him covered in blood and in the company of his brother, who told her he had "drained" his sibling. Gary O'Shaughnessy, 39, is charged with attempted murder and causing serious harm to his brother, Mark O'Shaughnessy, after an incident in May 2024. Two psychiatrists testified that Gary suffers from schizophrenia and fulfils the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Care assistant Louise McGloin testified that she found Mark covered in blood and Gary sitting on a couch, claiming he had "drained" his brother. Paramedics found Mark in a critical state with a catastrophic haemorrhage from a neck injury. Gary told gardai that he had been drinking heavily, heard voices, and was influenced by hallucinations to kill his brother. Forensic psychiatrists testified that Gary was suffering from schizophrenia and did not know the nature and quality of his actions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Care assistant describes moment she entered home of vulnerable client to find him covered in blood. Charges or matters: the attempted murder of his brother Mark O'Shaughnessy (42) at the same address between May 15 and 16, 2024. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- May 15 Other
- May 16 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 24 Other
- January 2024 Other
- February 2025 Incident
- September 2025 Other
- 2026-04-15 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: the attempted murder of his brother Mark O'Shaughnessy (42) at the same address between May 15 and 16, 2024 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Ailesbury House
- Lynn Road
- Mullingar
- his interviews at Mullingar Garda Station
- Mullingar
Topics
Related court reports
- Brothers who sexually assaulted teenage girls in mid-nineties can now be identified for first time
- Retired Franciscan brother jailed for 11 years for raping boy
- Ukrainian man left with serious head injury after unprovoked fire extinguisher attack
- 'Try not to let me down': judge cuts phone thief's sentence
- Man who attacked vulnerable brother in bid to 'drain' his blood is committed to Central Mental Hospital
- 'Terrible shroud of sadness': jury takes just 32 mins to find mentally ill man not guilty of trying to murder brother
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request