Mark Whelan’s murder trial hears evidence on mental disorder

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

Mark Whelan pleaded not guilty to murdering Noel Thomas Whelan at an apartment in Castlecurragh Heath, Dublin, on 30 March 2019. The proceedings at the Central Criminal Court were reported on 1 October 2021.

In his opening speech, prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn SC said the jury might be asked to consider verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity or of diminished responsibility because of evidence that Mark Whelan suffered from a mental disorder. McGinn said the prosecution did not believe he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and said the background to the crime was that he had taken drugs.

Forensic scientist Kirsten O’Connor said that Noel Whelan’s blood and DNA were found on clothes in Mark Whelan’s possession when he was arrested. The trial before Justice Tara Burns and a jury was continuing.