Courts / Dublin / Report

"Like something out of a horror story": man pleads not guilty to murdering neighbour by reason of insanity

Date
2016-07-25

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

In a 2016 murder trial, 60‑year‑old James Redmond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for killing Mary Dargan and attempting to kill her daughter Karina in their Killinarden Estate home on 15 March 2014. Redmond, who owned and licensed a shotgun, shot Dargan in the kitchen while she was drinking tea, severing an artery and killing her. He then fired at Karina's head as she fled, but she survived after a neighbour took her to hospital. Redmond claimed he was being called a paedophile by the Dargans and that he had been depressed and had sought medical help in January 2014. The prosecution presented evidence that the families had lived peacefully together for years and that Redmond had been under psychiatric care since the incident. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Like something out of a horror story": man pleads not guilty to murdering neighbour by reason of insanity. Charges or matters: murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan at their home in Killinarden Estate on March 15, 2014. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 15, 2014 Incident
March 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
March 15 Incident
January 2014 Incident
2016-07-25 Publication

Why: A 60-year-old man shot dead a mother of six and injured her daughter as they sat drinking tea in their kitchen because he believed they were calling him a paedophile, a murder trial jury has heard. CNI source report

Case subjects

James Redmond

Accused

Charges: murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan at their home in Killinarden Estate on March 15, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty