Patrick Dunne’s trial opens after not guilty plea to mother’s murder

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

Patrick Dunne pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother, Susan Dunne, at their home in Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, Co Kerry, between 26 and 27 November 2013, both dates inclusive.

His trial opened at the Central Criminal Court on 14 October 2022 before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. The proceedings were reported on 14 October 2022.

At the opening, a prosecuting barrister said expert psychiatrists for both the prosecution and defence agreed that Dunne was insane as defined by law at the time of his mother’s death.

Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC made admissions on Dunne’s behalf that he killed Susan Dunne without lawful justification. The prosecution said her body was found in her bedroom and that she had suffered fatal head trauma.

The report said the trial was due to resume that afternoon and was expected to last three days.