A Waterford man (47) has received a three years suspended sentence for attempting to murder his elderly mother in a nursing home.
Gerald Vollrath of Tramore Heights, Tramore held a pillow over his mother Veronica's face while keeping vigil at her bedside in January 2012.
The Central Criminal Court heard his mother (83) may already have been dead as the post mortem found no signs of suffocation.
Mr. Vollrath was arrested after he told a niece what he had done.
Passing sentence, Mr. Justice Paul Carney took into consideration that the motivation for the crime was entirely compassionate and in no way malevolent.
Outside court, Mr. Vollrath's solicitor Ken Cunningham gave a statement on his client's behalf - thanking his lawyers for their expertise and his family for 'their unwavering support, sympathy, compassion and love'.
He has asked the media to respect his family's privacy.
