Paul Cuddihy pleads not guilty to psychiatric patient murder

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

Paul Cuddihy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder at the Central Criminal Court, in a report published on 2 November 2016. Maria O’Brien died after being attacked at St Otteran’s psychiatric hospital in Waterford on 5 September 2014.

The court heard that Cuddihy was accused of stabbing Ms O’Brien repeatedly and believed he had to kill her to prevent harm to himself or his family. The report said both sides believed he was experiencing a psychotic episode, with the jury to decide whether he was not guilty by reason of insanity.