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. 3942Murder · Co. Louth · 23 May 2023

Luke Donnelly, 29, testifies at murder trial over death of mother Catherine Henry in Dundalk

Luke Donnelly, 29, told the Central Criminal Court he was 'groomed' into a life of drugs and violence by his abusive mother Catherine Henry, 62, whom he killed at her Dundalk apartment in May 2023. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and described a history of physical and mental abuse from childhood.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court30 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLuke Donnelly is an amateur kickboxer (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe admitted killing his mother but denied murdering her (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLuke Donnelly is 29 and of no fixed abode (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe moved to Delvin, Co Westmeath with his mother and her new husband (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHis mother began a relationship with a drug dealer (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe said voices told him he was God and that God had chosen him from the beginning of time (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHis mother came into the bedroom asking for his key and screamed she would kill him if he left (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had taken ketamine, cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy and a bottle of nitrous oxide on the night of May 22nd and the morning of May 23rd (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHis mother had obtained a safety order against him in 2020 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing took place at an apartment on Bridge Street in Dundalk, Co Louth (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing occurred between May 23rd and 24th, 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and five women at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Murder accused son says he was ‘groomed’ into life of drugs and violence by mother

    Luke Donnelly took the stand in his defence, describing a lifelong history of abuse from his mother, claiming he acted in self-defence, and admitting he had taken multiple drugs before the killing. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.

    accused, Luke Donnelly, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Luke Donnellyvictim, Catherine Henry, 62, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine Henry