Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 5498Murder · Co. Meath · 12 Nov 2022

Andrei Dobra found not guilty of murder of Ioana Pacala by reason of insanity

Ioana Mihaela Pacala (30) was found dead in her bed at the home she shared with her fiancé in Ratoath, Co Meath, on 12 November 2022. Her fiancé, Andrei Dobra (36), accepted that he strangled her and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to her murder at the Central Criminal Court. On 8 July 2024 a jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. The judge remanded him to the National Forensic Mental Health Services Hospital in Portrane, and an approved medical officer is due to report to the court on 19 July.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Jul
  5. Acquitted8 Jul
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ioana Mihaela Pacala, 30, was found dead in her bed at the home she shared with Andrei Dobra.
  • Andrei Dobra, 36, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering Ms Pacala, his fiancée.
Where
The killing took place in the couple's home in Ratoath, Co Meath, which one source describes as an apartment and another as a house.
When
The killing took place on 12 November 2022.
Cause
  • Dobra accepted that he strangled Ms Pacala to death during a psychotic episode.
  • Two consultant psychiatrists agreed that Dobra developed psychotic delusions that made him believe Ms Pacala was a threat to him, and that he did not know his actions were wrong.
Other details
  • Prof Patricia Casey diagnosed Dobra with schizoaffective psychosis, while Dr Brenda Wright said he had a major depressive episode with psychotic symptoms at the time of the killing.
  • Reports state that Dobra had no history of violence, criminality, mental illness or drug use.
Investigation
Dobra told gardaí that he felt like a devil was using him.
In court
  • The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of six men and six women.
  • Prof Casey and Dr Wright both said that Dobra meets the threshold for a not guilty by reason of insanity finding under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006.
  • The jury took one hour and 44 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict.
  • On 8 July 2024, Dobra was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.
  • An approved medical officer will assess Dobra and report to the court on 19 July.
Sentence
The judge remanded Dobra to the National Forensic Mental Health Services Hospital in Portrane.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAndrei Dobra, 36, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his partner Ioana Mihaela Pacala. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAndrei Dobra was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDobra accepted that he strangled Ms Pacala to death. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAndrei Dobra was found not guilty of murdering Ioana Pacala. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIoana Mihaela Pacala was found dead in her bed in an apartment in Ratoath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe killing happened in the home the couple shared. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereDobra had an address at Riverwalk Court, Fairyhouse Road in Ratoath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing happened at the couple's home in Ratoath, Co Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe killing happened on November 12th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing took place on 12 November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing happened on 12 November 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeDobra strangled his fiancee to death during a psychotic episode, according to the headline of the report. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeTwo psychiatrists agreed Dobra developed psychotic delusions that made him believe Pacala was a threat to him. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeIoana Mihaela Pacala was strangled. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDobra told gardaí he felt like a devil was using him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtProf Casey concluded that Dobra meets the threshold for a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDr Wright said Dobra qualifies for a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues on Monday before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of six men and six women. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury took one hour and 44 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAn approved medical officer will assess Dobra and report to the court on 19 July. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDobra was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Central Criminal Court heard evidence of Dobra's Garda interview. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtTwo consultant psychiatrists agreed that Dobra developed psychotic delusions and did not know his actions were wrong. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury of six men and six women took one hour and 44 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge remanded Dobra to the National Forensic Mental Health Services Hospital in Portrane. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDobra had no history of violence, criminality, mental illness or drug use, according to the article. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherProf Patricia Casey diagnosed Dobra with schizoaffective psychosis. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDr Brenda Wright said Dobra was experiencing a major depressive episode with psychotic symptoms at the time of the killing. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherProf Casey diagnosed Dobra with schizoaffective psychosis. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherProf Casey found no history of violence or criminality in Dobra's past. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Jul2024
    Acquittedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Sister of woman strangled to death upset at murder by reason of insanity verdict

    Reports the jury verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the psychiatric evidence, the jury's deliberation time, and the reaction of Ms Pacala's sister.

    victim, Ioana Mihaela Pacala, 30, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ioana Mihaela Pacalaaccused, Andrei Dobra, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrei Dobra
  2. 8 Jul2024
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, first report
    Security guard who strangled fiancee to death found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity

    Jury verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after Dobra accepted he strangled Pacala; he was remanded to Portrane and a report on his treatment is due on 19 July.

    accused, Andrei Dobra, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrei Dobravictim, Ioana Mihaela Pacala, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ioana Mihaela Pacala
  3. 6 Jul2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man with no history of violence strangled fiancee to death in psychotic episode, Central Criminal Court hears

    Reports psychiatric evidence from the defence (Prof Patricia Casey) and prosecution (Dr Brenda Wright), both of whom say Dobra qualifies for a not guilty by reason of insanity finding. Describes his background and the couple's relationship, and that the trial continues on Monday.

    accused, Andrei Dobra, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrei Dobravictim, Ioana Mihaela Pacala, 30, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ioana Mihaela Pacala