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Woman found not guilty of daughter's murder by reason of insanity

A woman who killed her three-year-old daughter last year has been found not guilty of her murder ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.50 23 Oct 2019


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Woman found not guilty of daug...

Woman found not guilty of daughter's murder by reason of insanity

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.50 23 Oct 2019


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A woman who killed her three-year-old daughter last year has been found not guilty of her murder by reason of insanity.

She has now been committed to the Central Mental Hospital where medical experts will decide on the best course of action for her.

It took the jurors just under an hour to arrive at their unanimous verdict.

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Over the past two days, they were told she admitted using a pillow to suffocate her toddler daughter at the family home last year, but her defence barrister claimed she was suffering from a mental disorder at the time.

The woman was also examined by a forensic psychiatrist for the prosecution, who was in agreement that she fulfilled the criteria for the special verdict

Both medical experts found she was suffering from severe depression and psychosis when she killed her daughter.

The short trial heard she falsely believed that her daughter was suffering from a severe form of autism at the time.

She became obsessed with this belief and was consumed by feelings of hopelessness, despair and a pessimistic outlook about her future, and believed the only option was to kill her.

The woman was embraced by her partner after the special verdict was delivered and will now be further assessed by experts in the Central Mental Hospital.

Reporting by Frank Greaney
Main image: Pictured is Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin City Centre today. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

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