Sunday 1 November 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. 21409Fatal stabbing

Found not guilty by reason of insanity in Wexford murder case

Julie Flood, 51, was charged with the murder of her 94-year-old father Patrick Flood after stabbing him with a kitchen knife at their home in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, on his 94th birthday on April 12, 2019; he died two days later. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. A jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 48 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded her to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane with a return date of May 4th.

  1. Reported21 Apr
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Apr
    2 reports
  5. Acquitted20 Apr
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Julie Flood, 51, was charged with the murder of her 94-year-old father Patrick Flood after stabbing him with a kitchen knife.
Where
The stabbing took place at the family home in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
When
Patrick Flood was stabbed on April 12, 2019, and died two days later on April 14, 2019.
Weapon
A kitchen knife was used.
Cause
The postmortem found the cause of death was congested cardiac failure complicated by ischemic colitis on the background of a recent stab wound.
Charges
Julie Flood pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of her father.
In court
  • The trial was heard before a jury at the Central Criminal Court under Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
  • Two psychiatrists gave evidence that Julie Flood met the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
  • The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 48 minutes of deliberation.
Sentence
Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Julie Flood to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane with a return date of May 4th.
Other details
Julie Flood has paranoid schizophrenia and was in a psychotic state at the time, believing the voice of God told her her father was an impostor.
Investigation
The defence admitted the accused was properly arrested and detained by gardaí.
44 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman is on trial for fatally stabbing her 94-year-old father. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatPatrick Flood died two days after the stabbing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA 51-year-old woman with paranoid schizophrenia stabbed her elderly father to death on his 94th birthday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatJulie Flood was found not guilty of the murder of her elderly father by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA man was stabbed to death. (extra.ie)
  • whereThe stabbing happened at the couple's home in Co Wexford. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereJulie Flood's address is listed as The Oyle, Oylegate, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereMs Flood's address is The Oyle, Oylegate, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on April 12th, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenJulie Flood stabbed her father, Patrick, at the family home on 12 April 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenMr Flood died two days after the stabbing, on April 14th. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenPatrick Flood was stabbed on April 12th, after being woken at 7am by his daughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenPatrick Flood died on April 14th, 2019, two days after he was stabbed. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe cause of death was congested cardiac failure complicated by ischemic colitis on the background of a recent stab wound. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe single stab wound caused the victim's death two days later. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeShe believed the voice of God had told her her father was an impostor intent on hurting her. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe postmortem found the cause of death was congested cardiac failure complicated by ischemic colitis on the background of a recent stab wound. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeJulie Flood has paranoid schizophrenia and was in a psychotic state when she stabbed her father to death on his 94th birthday. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe accused stabbed her father with a kitchen knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponShe picked up a knife and stabbed her father. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe defence admitted that the accused was properly arrested and detained by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationTwo psychiatrists gave evidence that Julie Flood met the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeJulie Flood pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of her father. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial was heard before a jury at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is continuing. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA forensic psychiatrist said Julie Flood did not know that what she was doing was wrong when she stabbed her father. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution said it would be perverse for the jury not to accept the expert evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women, with the defence to give its closing statement. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury at the Central Criminal Court returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after 48 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtTwo psychiatrists agreed that Ms Flood did not know what she was doing was wrong when she stabbed him. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution said the jury should return a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity if it accepted the psychiatric evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury at the Central Criminal Court deliberated for 48 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Julie Flood to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane and set a return date of May 4th. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge adjourned the matter to Friday to finalise arrangements for Ms Flood's care. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution said the accused was in a psychotic state when she attacked her father. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution said experts agree the accused fell within the legal definition of insanity at the time. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused told gardaí she heard God say her father was not her daddy but an intruder. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA prosecution psychiatrist diagnosed Julie Flood with paranoid schizophrenia. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution psychiatrist said Julie Flood fulfils the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA witness saw Ms Flood flagging people down and heard her say she had stabbed her father. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA postmortem found Patrick Flood had severe heart disease that could have caused his death at any time. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe postmortem gave the cause of death as congested cardiac failure complicated by ischemic colitis on the background of a recent stab wound. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFriends of the man are raising money for his funeral. (extra.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Apr2023
    Reportedextra.ie, its first report
    Friends Of Man Stabbed To Death Raise Money For Funeral

    Only the headline is usable. The body text is template code with no article content. No location, date, suspect or investigation details are given, and no existing case matches a stabbing death in April 2023.

    victim, male
  2. 21 Apr2023
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Woman found not guilty of murdering father by reason of insanity remanded to Central Mental Hospital

    Reports the jury verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the evidence on her mental state and the remand to the Central Mental Hospital.

    victim, Patrick Flood, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Floodaccused, Julie Flood, 51, female, named, irish (judged from name)Julie Flood
  3. 20 Apr2023
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Woman who stabbed father on 94th birthday found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity

    Reports the Central Criminal Court verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the psychiatric evidence, the defence and prosecution closing statements, and the judge's adjournment for care arrangements. Adds the cause of death from the postmortem.

    victim, Patrick Flood, 94, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Floodaccused, Julie Flood, 51, female, named, irish (judged from name)Julie Flood
  4. 19 Apr2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Woman on trial for murdering father 'heard voices of U2 accusing her of rape'

    Reports the Central Criminal Court trial in its closing stages: both psychiatrists gave evidence that Julie Flood meets the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the prosecution said the murder elements were proved, and the defence was to give its closing statement the next day.

    victim, 94, male, irish (judged from name)accused, Julie Flood, 51, female, named, irish (judged from name)Julie Flood
  5. 18 Apr2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Woman believed father was an ‘intruder’ when she fatally stabbed him, court told

    Trial report from the Central Criminal Court: the prosecution opened its case, the defence made three formal admissions, and the court heard the accused's account and medical evidence. The insanity plea and the trial continuing are the new developments.

    victim, Patrick Flood, 94, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Floodaccused, Julie Flood, 51, female, named, irish (judged from name)Julie Flood