Courts / Dublin / Report

Man who killed father with WWII bayonet was suffering from schizophrenia, trial hears

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 32‑year‑old man named Gareth Sheeran was charged with murdering his 65‑year‑old father, Harry Sheeran, on Father's Day 2021 by stabbing him with a World War II bayonet. The defendant pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming a relapse of schizophrenia. Dr Patrick McLaughlin, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Sheeran had a long history of persecutory delusions, disorganised thinking and untreated schizophrenia for three years before the killing. He described Sheeran's incoherent account of being told to kill his father at Phoenix Park and noted that the defendant did not understand the nature or wrongness of his act. The prosecution and defence both agreed the defendant was entitled to raise the insanity defence. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury the following day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who killed father with WWII bayonet was suffering from schizophrenia, trial hears. Charges or matters: the murder of his father, Harry Sheeran (65) at the same address on Father's Day, June 20, 2021. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 20, 2021 Other
• 2023-07-20 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report