Ross O’Rourke committed to Central Mental Hospital after insanity verdict

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

Ross O’Rourke was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for continued treatment after a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering his father, Stefan Nivelles Posschier.

O’Rourke, 31, who previously lived in Tullow, Carlow, killed his 65-year-old father at Mr Posschier’s home in Kinnegad, Co Westmeath, between October 24 and 25, 2022. The jury returned a unanimous verdict.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered the commitment after Dr Dearbhla Duffy said O’Rourke still had a mental disorder and could not make informed decisions about his psychiatric treatment. She said he required continuing inpatient care. A review board will assess his condition at least once every six months.

At trial, defence psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney diagnosed a schizo-affective disorder and said acute psychosis had left O’Rourke unable to stop himself from killing his father. Prosecution psychiatrist Dr Anthony Kearns considered that O’Rourke understood what he was doing, but did not understand it was wrong because he believed his own life was in danger. Both psychiatrists supported the insanity verdict.

Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said O’Rourke’s beliefs that his father was involved in crime or the IRA were false and arose from his delusions. Witnesses had described Mr Posschier as placid, friendly and soft-hearted.