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. 4757Murder · Co. Louth · 28 Sep 2025

Jury in Louth murder trial shown garda interview videos

Robert O'Connor, 32, has pleaded not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, or guilty of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, over the killing of his mother Louise, father Mark and brother Evan O'Connor at their Co Louth home in September 2025. The jury has been shown segments of his garda interview videos after asking to see his demeanour, and the two psychiatrists agree on a relapse of schizophrenia but differ on whether he qualifies for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLouise, Mark and Evan O'Connor were killed at their Co Louth home in September 2025. (rte.ie)
  • whatRobert O'Connor is accused of the triple murder of his mother Louise, 56, his father Mark, 54, and his younger brother Evan, 27. (rte.ie)
  • whatRobert O’Connor pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the triple murder of his mother, father and younger brother. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe killings took place at the family home in Co Louth. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe killings took place at the home between 28 and 29 September 2025. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe killings took place between 28 and 29 September 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe three victims had sustained a combined 139 stab wounds. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe accused held his brother and parents at knife point. (rte.ie)
  • investigationRobert O'Connor was interviewed by gardaí at Drogheda Garda Station on 29 and 30 September 2025. (rte.ie)
  • investigationIn garda interviews the accused said he dragged his parents and brother into the garden after stabbing them. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe accused was interviewed by gardaí at Drogheda Garda Station on 29 and 30 September 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeRobert O'Connor has pleaded not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, or guilty of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, or guilty of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe accused accepts he caused the death of the three victims, who had a combined 139 stab wounds. (rte.ie)
  • courtTwo consultant psychiatrists agree that Robert was suffering from a relapse of schizophrenia when he fatally stabbed his parents and brother. (rte.ie)
  • courtDefence psychiatrist Dr Fiona Toal found that the accused met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. (rte.ie)
  • courtProsecution psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney found that the accused met the criteria for guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility and not for the insanity verdict. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution says the central issue at trial is whether Robert O'Connor was insane at the time. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury foreman asked to see the videos of the accused's garda interviews to observe his demeanour. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury watched seven segments from the accused's three garda interviews, lasting one hour and five minutes. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury has six men and six women. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge, Mr Justice Mícheál P O'Higgins, said the trial is approaching the end of the evidence and will move to the next phase the following day. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe accused accepts he caused the deaths of the three victims. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury asked to see videos of the accused's garda interviews to observe his demeanour. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury watched seven segments of the accused's three garda interviews, lasting one hour and five minutes. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the trial was nearing the end of the evidence and would move to the next phase on Thursday. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherTwo consultant psychiatrists agree the accused was suffering a relapse of schizophrenia when the killings occurred. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe two psychiatrists differ on whether the accused qualifies for a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDefence psychiatrist Dr Fiona Toal found the accused met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherProsecution psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney found the accused met the criteria for guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Oct2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Jury in Louth murder trial shown accused's garda interviews after asking to see his 'demeanour'

    Reports the jury being shown seven segments of the accused's garda interview videos, the judge's ruling on the request, and evidence from two forensic psychiatrists who agree on schizophrenia relapse but differ on the insanity verdict. No earlier record of this case was in the list.

    accused, Robert O'Connor, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert O'Connorvictim, Louise O'Connor, 56, female, irish (judged from name)Louise O'Connorvictim, Mark O'Connor, 54, male, irish (judged from name)Mark O'Connorvictim, Evan O'Connor, 27, male, irish (judged from name)Evan O'Connor
  2. 28 Oct2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Jury in Louth murder trial shown garda interview videos

    Trial report from the Central Criminal Court: the accused accepts causing the three deaths, the jury asked to see his garda interview videos and watched seven segments, and the psychiatric experts disagree on the insanity verdict. The trial is approaching the end of the evidence.

    accused, Robert O'Connor, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert O'Connorvictim, 56, female, irish (judged from name)victim, 54, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Evan O'Connor, 27, male, irish (judged from name)Evan O'Connor