Ireland Case No. 4261Murder · Co. Dublin · 13 Jan 2023
Dublin man committed to Central Mental Hospital after murder insanity verdict
Austin Mangan, 53, was charged with the murder of his partner Maud Coffey, 41, who was slashed with a large knife and had a black flex wrapped around her neck at the Horizon Building, Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, Dublin 15, on 13 January 2023. Mangan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and a Central Criminal Court jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity on 17 December 2025, accepting that he was suffering a severe relapse of schizoaffective disorder at the time. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for 13 days with six-monthly reviews on 19 December 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court9 Dec
2 reports - Acquitted17 Dec
7 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Austin Mangan, 53, was charged with the murder of his partner Maud Coffey, 41.
- A Central Criminal Court jury found Mangan not guilty of the murder by reason of insanity.
- Where
- The killing took place at the Horizon Building, Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, Dublin 15.
- When
- The murder occurred on 13 January 2023.
- Cause
- Mangan was suffering a severe relapse of schizoaffective disorder at the time of the killing.
- Weapon
- Coffey was slashed across the throat and other parts of the body with a large knife and a black flex from a hoover was wrapped around her neck.
- Investigation
- Mangan told gardaí he had killed his girlfriend.
- Charges
- Mangan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder.
- In court
- A jury of seven men and five women was sworn on 9 December 2025 and deliberated for seven hours and 23 minutes over two days.
- Sentence
- Mangan was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for 13 days with six-monthly reviews.
- Other details
- Mangan had not been taking his psychiatric medicine for three months before the killing and had been admitted to mental health services on 30 occasions.
- Coffey had spent two weeks in a specialist wing of Connolly Memorial Hospital before discharging herself two days before her death.
90 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAustin Mangan, 53, is charged with the murder of Maud Coffey, 41 (irishtimes.com)
- 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)
- whatAustin Mangan was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. (rte.ie)
- whatMangan was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA jury found Austin Mangan not guilty of Maud Coffey's murder by reason of insanity. (rte.ie)
- whatMaud Coffey suffered multiple injuries during a frenzied attack by Mangan. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe murder occurred at the Horizon Building in Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, Dublin 15 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at the Horizon Building in Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com, rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at the Horizon Building in Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at the Horizon Building in Ashtown, Dublin 15. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at the Horizon Building in Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, Dublin 15. (thejournal.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 took place on 13 January 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on 13 January 2023 (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing took place on 13 January 2023. (rte.ie)
- whenThe killing happened on 13 January 2023. (thejournal.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 severe relapse of schizoaffective disorder when he killed his girlfriend. (rte.ie)
- causeMangan was suffering a relapse of a schizoaffective disorder when he killed Maud Coffey. (rte.ie)
- causeHSE mental health services knew Mangan had not been taking his psychiatric medicine for three months before the killing. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- weaponMs Coffey was found with a flex around her neck and was slashed with a large knife. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponA flex from a hoover was wrapped around Maud Coffey's neck. (rte.ie)
- weaponMaud Coffey was slashed across the throat and other parts of the body with a large knife. (rte.ie)
- weaponA black flex was wrapped around the victim's neck and she was slashed with a large knife. (thejournal.ie)
- 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)
- investigationMangan told gardaí that he had killed Ms Coffey. (rte.ie)
- investigationMangan told gardaí he had killed his girlfriend. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeAustin Mangan is charged with the murder of Maud Coffey (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMangan had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to Maud Coffey's murder. (rte.ie)
- courtMangan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Melanie Greally swore in a jury of seven men and five women at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is expected to last up to six days (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Melanie Greally is presiding over the trial (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury of seven men and five women was sworn on 9 December 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is likely to last up to six days (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)
- courtThe Central Criminal Court jury accepted the defence psychiatric evidence that Mangan was unable to refrain from the killing. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jurors rejected the State expert's finding that Mangan could refrain from the killing. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury deliberated for seven hours and 23 minutes over two days. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge directed a psychiatric assessment to see whether Mangan needs inpatient care. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury accepted the defence psychiatric evidence that Mangan was unable to refrain from the killing. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge exempted the jurors from jury service for seven years. (thejournal.ie)
- courtDr Ronan Mullaney found that Mangan met the criteria for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. (rte.ie)
- courtMangan was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for continuing treatment. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtMangan will be reviewed every six months at the Central Mental Hospital. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury found Mangan not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe delay in the trial was caused by difficulty obtaining reports from forensic consultant psychiatrists. (thejournal.ie)
- 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 at the Friday hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMr Justice Paul Burns committed Mangan to the Central Mental Hospital for inpatient care for a period of 13 days. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge committed Mangan to the Central Mental Hospital for a period of 13 days. (rte.ie)
- sentenceMangan was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for 13 days. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMangan was committed to the Central Mental Hospital, where he will be reviewed every six months. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMangan has a previous address at Hollybank Road in Drumcondra and is more recently of the Beaumont area of Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- otherAustin Mangan's previous address was Hollybank Road, Drumcondra (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAustin Mangan more recently lived in the Beaumont area of Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- 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)
- otherThe defence made formal admissions that Mangan killed Ms Coffey. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge exempted the jurors from jury service for the next seven years. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge directed a victim impact statement be prepared for Friday. (thejournal.ie)
- otherPsychiatrist Ronan Mullaney said Mangan was suffering from an acute psychosis relapse of schizoaffective disorder at the time. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMaud Coffey suffered multiple injuries during a frenzied attack. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherMangan's family said they agree with the jury's verdict. (rte.ie)
- otherMaud Coffey's family said they do not believe Mangan is responsible for her death. (rte.ie)
- otherThe family believes Maud Coffey would still be alive if Mangan had been properly listened to. (rte.ie)
- otherMangan went to Millmount Health Clinic the day before the killing for an injection but was not given it. (rte.ie)
- otherMangan had gone to a psychiatric team the day before the death and was sent away with an appointment for the following week. (thejournal.ie)
- 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 - 19 Dec2025'Total devastation': Family of woman killed by her partner say she would be alive if he was listened to
Adds the family's victim impact statements and criticism of HSE Mental Health Services, the committal of Mangan to the Central Mental Hospital with review every six months, and the trial evidence on the weapons and Mangan's psychiatric history.
victim, Maud Coffey, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Maud Coffeyaccused, Austin Mangan, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Austin Mangan - 19 Dec2025Woman would be alive if partner was listened to - family
Adds the family's statements after the verdict, criticism of HSE mental health services, the trial evidence on Mangan's missed medication and clinic visit, and the committal to the 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 - 18 Dec2025Dublin man who killed girlfriend found not guilty murder by reason of insanity
Reports the jury verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the psychiatric evidence, the weapons described in court, the committal to the Central Mental Hospital for 13 days, and the directed victim impact statement.
victim, Maud Coffey, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Maud Coffeyaccused, Austin Mangan, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Austin Mangan - 18 Dec2025Man found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
Reports the Central Criminal Court jury verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the jury's deliberation time, the prosecution expert's disagreement, the 13-day committal to the Central Mental Hospital and the order for a psychiatric assessment.
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 - 10 Dec2025Dublin man pleads not guilty by reason of insanity to woman's murder
Trial begins; jury of 12 sworn on 9 December 2025; plea of not guilty by reason of insanity recorded; trial expected to last up to six days.
victim, Maud Coffey, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Maud Coffeyaccused, Austin Mangan, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Austin Mangan - 9 Dec2025Dublin man pleads not guilty by reason of insanity to murder of Maud Coffey in Dublin in 2023
Jury sworn in; Mangan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity; trial set to begin the following day and expected to last up to six days.
victim, Maud Coffey, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Maud Coffeyaccused, Austin Mangan, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Austin Mangan