Native Irish speaker described how he 'smacked' grandfather's head with granite stone, cement block

A 39-year-old man from Derrybeg in County Donegal has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his 78-year-old grandfather at Carrickcoyle on 19 December 2023. The Central Criminal Court jury heard that the accused described using a granite stone and cement block to assault the victim outside his home in the Donegal Gaeltacht. In interviews with gardaí, the accused stated he had experienced command hallucinations instructing him to kill his grandfather and that he had ceased taking psychiatric medication approximately three months prior to the incident. Evidence was presented that the accused had suffered childhood sexual abuse and had a documented history of mental health difficulties, self-harm, and suicide attempts. Expert consultant psychiatrists for both the State and defence reportedly agree he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the killing. The accused also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to property damage, threats, and assault charges arising from incidents on the same date. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.