Shane Smyth found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity

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

Shane Smyth was found not guilty of murdering Mairead Moran by reason of insanity after the jury deliberated for less than an hour. The proceedings were reported on 8 February 2016.

He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The charge concerned the murder of 26-year-old Mairead Moran on 8 May 2014. The report said he stabbed her several times at the Market Cross Shopping Centre, where she worked.

Two psychiatrists who gave evidence during the five-day trial said Smyth was suffering from a mental disorder, was incapable of forming the intent to commit murder and was not in control of his actions at the time. Defence counsel Colman Cody said his actions were a direct consequence of an enduring illness going back many years.

Prosecuting counsel John O’Kelly also reminded the jury that both psychiatrists gave clear evidence that Smyth was incapable of forming the necessary intent for murder on the day of the attack. Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan thanked the jury and excused its members from jury duty for life.

The court ordered Smyth’s detention at the Central Mental Hospital for psychiatric assessment. He was due to return before the court in two weeks, when the judge would decide what would happen to him.