Young man who stabbed his mother 10 times found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
Caroline Crawford – Published 01 May 2014 06:38 PM
A YOUNG man who stabbed his mother 10 times before carrying out a prolonged assault on her, kicking, punching and beating her with the handle of a brush has been found not guilty of her murder by reason of insanity.
Paul Henry (28) had denied the murder of his mother Ann Henry who died outside her home at The Spinney, Abbeytown, Roscommon on September 17, 2011.
The jury of six men and six woman returned the verdict after deliberating for over three hours.
Judge Carney had earlier told the jury that they had four options in front of them. They could return verdicts of guilty, not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity and not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The judge stressed to the jury that if the verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity, this would not result in Henry walking free.
"It does not mean he will walk out the door. There is a programme that will be instituted to protect himself and protect others," he said.
After three hours deliberations, the jury requested to hear the three points to consider for an insanity plea again. Judge Carney told them at this stage that he would accept a majority verdict in the case.
Just 15 minutes later they returned with a majority ten to two verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Judge Carney adjourned the case to May 7 for a report from the Central Mental Hospital.
