Ireland Case No. 4261Murder · Co. Dublin · 13 Jan 2023
Austin Mangan committed to Central Mental Hospital after acquittal by reason of insanity in murder of Maud Coffey
Austin Mangan, 53, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital on 19 December 2025 after a jury found him not guilty of the murder of his partner Maud Coffey, 41, by reason of insanity. The family delivered statements at the hearing, criticised HSE Mental Health Services over medication gaps, and said they agreed with the verdict.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Acquitted17 Dec
3 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports38 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMangan was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of Maud Coffey. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMangan was suffering from a severe relapse of schizoaffective disorder at the time of the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defence made formal admissions that Mangan killed Coffey. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMaud Coffey suffered multiple injuries during a frenzied attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at the Horizon Building in Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereMangan had a previous address at Hollybank Road in Drumcondra and was more recently of the Beaumont area of Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at the Horizon Building in Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMangan went to Millmount Health Clinic in Drumcondra to get an injection the day before the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMangan had a previous address at Hollybank Road in Drumcondra and more recently lived in the Beaumont area of Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on 13 January 2023. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing occurred on 13 January 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMangan was told to come back for his depot medication on 18 January 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMangan was suffering from a schizoaffective disorder at the time of the killing. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMangan was suffering a relapse of a schizoaffective disorder at the time of the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponCoffey had been slashed across the throat and other parts of the body with a large knife. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA black flex from a hoover was found tightly wrapped around the deceased's neck. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe deceased had been slashed across the throat and other parts of the body with a large knife. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe verdict was delivered by a Central Criminal Court jury on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of seven men and five women deliberated for seven hours and 23 minutes over two days. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA psychiatric assessment by an approved medical officer at the CMH was directed to determine whether Mangan needs inpatient care. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury found Mangan not guilty of the murder by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMangan was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for continuing treatment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury found Mangan not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMangan was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for continuing treatment at the Friday hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMangan will be reviewed every six months at the Central Mental Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMr Justice Paul Burns committed Mangan to the Central Mental Hospital for inpatient care for a period of 13 days. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMangan had been admitted to mental health services on 30 occasions. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherMangan had a long-standing history of resisting medication. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCoffey had spent two weeks in a specialist wing of Connolly Memorial Hospital before discharging herself two days before her death. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMangan had been making plans to propose marriage to Coffey. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge exempted the jury from jury service for the next seven years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMangan had not been taking his psychiatric medicine for three months before the killing. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherMangan sought help from his psychiatric team the day before the death but was sent away with an appointment for the following week. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMaud Coffey had spent two weeks in a specialist wing of Connolly Memorial Hospital before discharging herself two days before her death. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMangan had been making plans to propose marriage to Maud Coffey. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMangan told gardaí he had killed his girlfriend and referred to the devil, the bible and the killing of Lucifer. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDr Patrick McLaughlin said Mangan continues to suffer from a schizoaffective disorder and needs continuing treatment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe trial was delayed due to difficulty obtaining reports from forensic consultant psychiatrists. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Dec2025Maud Coffey’s family eager to work with HSE to stop others being killed like their sister
Reports on the commitment hearing at which Mangan was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for continuing treatment, family statements delivered by his sisters and brother, criticism of HSE Mental Health Services over a three-month medication gap, and the judge's comments on the trial delay.
victim, Maud Coffey, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Maud Coffeyaccused, Austin Mangan, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Austin Mangan - 19 Dec2025Family of woman tell of disbelief over death at hands of 'friendly giant'
Reports the family's statements at the commitment hearing, details of the HSE's role in Mangan's medication, the weapons used, and the judge's commitment of Mangan to Central Mental Hospital with six-monthly reviews.
victim, Maud Coffey, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Maud Coffeyaccused, Austin Mangan, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Austin Mangan - 17 Dec2025Man suffering from relapse of schizoaffective disorder found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
The jury accepted the defence expert's evidence that Mangan was unable to refrain from the killing due to a severe relapse of schizoaffective disorder. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for 13 days with a psychiatric assessment to follow, and victim-impact evidence was directed for the following Friday.
victim, Maud Coffey, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Maud Coffeyaccused, Austin Mangan, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Austin Mangan