Gearoid Coughlan jailed for attempted murder of his mother

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Gearoid Coughlan was jailed for 12 years, with the final two years suspended, for attempting to murder his mother at the Central Criminal Court, reported on 13 May 2024. The attack took place at her home in Ballycoughlan, Co Cork, on 4 June 2021.

The judge said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the attack, Coughlan’s guilty plea and his reduced moral responsibility due to mental disorder. He was to undergo six years of supervision by probation and psychiatric services after his prison sentence.

Judge Paul McDermott said Coughlan would need further treatment before he could safely return to society. Mary Coughlan suffered life-long injuries in the attack and criticised the mental health services’ ability to care for complex illness in the community.