Ireland Case No. 4518Murder · Co. Kerry
Billy Burns found guilty of murdering mother Miriam Burns (75) after insanity defence rejected
A jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously convicted Billy Burns, 55, of murdering his 75-year-old mother, Miriam Burns, at her home in Killarney, Co Kerry. The jury rejected his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, and he faces the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court22 Nov
- Convicted24 Nov
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports33 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBilly Burns has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his mother. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA jury unanimously convicted Billy Burns of murdering his 75-year-old mother. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA jury unanimously convicted a Co Kerry man of murdering his 75-year-old mother. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMiriam Burns was found dead at her home in Ardshanavooley, Killarney, Co Kerry. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereMiriam Burns was found dead at her home at Ardshanavooley, Killarney, Co Kerry. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe prosecution alleges the fatal injuries were inflicted on 12 or 13 August. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe prosecution alleged the fatal injuries were inflicted on August 12 or 13. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMiriam Burns was found dead on August 15th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe prosecution alleged the fatal injuries were inflicted on August 12th or 13th. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe State Pathologist found injuries consistent with multiple blows, manual strangulation and possible suffocation. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMiriam Burns was strangled to death at her home three years ago. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeA pathologist's report showed the mother died from manual strangulation associated with blunt force trauma to the head. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe jury accepted that the cause of the killing was not mental illness but long-term abuse of drugs and alcohol and anger towards his mother. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBilly Burns denied to gardaí any involvement in his mother's killing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe accused denied to gardaí any involvement in his mother's death and told lies about his movements on the day. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBilly Burns has been charged with murdering his mother at her home in Killarney. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury panel had spent three hours and 47 minutes over two days considering its verdict. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtPresiding judge Ms Justice Karen O'Connor was charging the jury. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBilly Burns had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury accepted the prosecution's case that the cause was not mental illness but long-term abuse of drugs and alcohol and anger towards his mother. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe one-week trial took place at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury took six hours and eight minutes to reject the insanity plea. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtTwo psychiatrists differed on whether Burns qualified for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity during the one-week trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury took six hours and eight minutes to reject the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBilly Burns faces the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, with sentencing adjourned to Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge adjourned the matter to Friday, when Burns faces the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence psychiatrist, Dr Eugene Morgan, said the accused meets the criteria for the special verdict. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe prosecution psychiatrist, Dr Stephen Monks, said the accused understood the nature and quality of his actions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe jury has four possible verdicts on the murder charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA pathologist found that Miriam Burns died from manual strangulation associated with blunt force trauma to the head. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe trial heard the accused had been aggressive and violent towards his mother since he was a teenager and once broke her jaw. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMembers of the Burns family will be invited to make statements to the court. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Nov2025Co Kerry man found guilty of murdering mother (75) after jury rejects insanity defence
Reports the jury verdict convicting Burns of murder after rejecting the insanity defence, the trial evidence, and that sentencing is due later in the week. Earlier reporting on the 2022 death is not in the existing case list.
convicted, Billy Burns, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Billy Burnsvictim, Miriam Burns, 75, female, irish (judged from name)Miriam Burns - 24 Nov2025Kerry man convicted of murdering his mother - strangling her to death
Jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Billy Burns of murdering his mother after rejecting his not guilty by reason of insanity plea; sentencing was adjourned to the Friday following the verdict.
convicted, Billy Burns, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Billy Burnsvictim, Miriam Burns, 75, female, irish (judged from name)Miriam Burns - 22 Nov2025Billy Burns trial: Jury to continue deliberations on Monday
Trial report on the jury's deliberations and the psychiatric evidence on the insanity plea. The article gives the prosecution's allegation that the fatal injuries were inflicted on 12 or 13 August 2022, and that Miriam Burns was found dead on 15 August 2022.
accused, Billy Burns, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Billy Burnsvictim, Miriam Burns, 75, female, irish (judged from name)Miriam Burns