Thursday 29 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. 11020Murder · Co. Laois · 12 Nov 2024

Laois Garda detective gives evidence in Ballyfin Demesne murder trial

Henry McGowan (31), an American man, is alleged to have strangled his father, John McGowan (66), at Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, Co Laois, on November 12, 2024. He was arrested, interviewed by gardaí on four occasions and charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and on February 12, 2026, the Central Criminal Court jury returned a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered him committed to the Central Mental Hospital, with a return to court set for February 20.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Acquitted13 Feb
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Henry McGowan (31), an American man, is alleged to have strangled his father, John McGowan (66), at a five-star Laois resort.
Where
The killing is alleged to have taken place at Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, Co Laois.
When
The killing is alleged to have happened on November 12, 2024, just over an hour after John McGowan arrived at the demesne.
Cause
Henry McGowan told gardaí he strangled his father, and the jury accepted psychiatric evidence that he was suffering from schizoaffective disorder at the time.
Weapon
He described strangling his father with his bare hands; one source places this on a bathroom floor and another in a changing area off the pool.
Investigation
Henry McGowan was interviewed by gardaí on four occasions, and Detective Inspector Diarmaid Lawlor of Portlaoise Garda Station gave evidence on February 10, 2026.
Charges
Henry McGowan was charged with the murder of John McGowan.
In court
  • Henry McGowan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity; one key fact says the trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women, while the articles report the verdict.
  • On February 12, 2026, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after about an hour and 23 minutes of deliberation.
Other details
  • A consultant forensic psychiatrist called by the defence found that he was suffering from an acute psychotic episode and met the criteria for a special verdict.
  • The judge directed the preparation of a psychiatric assessment by an approved medical officer.
  • He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2022.
  • He has no previous convictions.
Sentence
The judge ordered Henry McGowan committed to the Central Mental Hospital, with a return to court set for February 20.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHenry McGowan strangled his father, John McGowan, at a five-star Laois resort. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe murder is alleged to have happened at Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe killing took place at Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe killing took place at Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe killing is said to have happened just over an hour after John McGowan arrived at Ballyfin Demesne. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe killing took place on November 12, 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe accused described how he strangled his father with his bare hands in a changing area off the pool. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe jury accepted psychiatric evidence that the accused was suffering from schizoaffective disorder when he killed his father. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe accused told gardaí he strangled his father. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe accused strangled his father on a bathroom floor with his bare hands. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe accused said he strangled his father with his bare hands. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationHenry McGowan was interviewed by gardaí on four occasions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationDetective Inspector Diarmaid Lawlor of Portlaoise Garda Station gave evidence on February 10. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHenry McGowan was charged with the murder of John McGowan. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe Central Criminal Court has heard the trial evidence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after about an hour and 23 minutes of deliberation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHenry McGowan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of John McGowan. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA consultant forensic psychiatrist was called to give evidence by the defence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe expert witness found that the accused was suffering from an acute psychotic episode. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe expert witness said the accused meets the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge ordered Henry McGowan committed to the Central Mental Hospital, with a return to court set for February 20. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge directed the preparation of a psychiatric assessment by an approved medical officer. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused has no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Feb2026
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois Garda detective gives evidence in Ballyfin Demense murder trial

    Reports the second day of the trial, including evidence from Detective Inspector Diarmaid Lawlor about the accused's interviews, medical history and account of the killing.

    accused, Henry McGowan, 31, male, American, named, non-irishHenry McGowanvictim, John McGowan, 66, irish (judged from name)John McGowan
  2. 13 Feb2026
    Acquittedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man found not guilty over death of father at luxury Laois hotel

    Reports the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the evidence that the accused had schizoaffective disorder, and the committal order to the Central Mental Hospital.

    victim, John McGowan, 66, male, irish (judged from name)John McGowanaccused, Henry McGowan, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Henry McGowan
  3. 12 Feb2026
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Murder accused who strangled father in Laois five star hotel said he earned $4.5 million in his last job

    Reports the Central Criminal Court trial, including the not guilty by reason of insanity plea and defence psychiatric evidence. The article covers the trial, not a new incident.

    accused, Henry McGowan, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Henry McGowanvictim, John McGowan, 66, male, irish (judged from name)John McGowan