Ireland Case No. 3250Attempted murder, intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm · Co. Westmeath · 15 May 2024
Man committed to Central Mental Hospital after Mullingar attempted murder verdict
Gary O'Shaughnessy, 39, struck his partially blind brother Mark O'Shaughnessy, 42, on the head with a hammer and cut his neck with a knife at Ailesbury House, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, between 15 and 16 May 2024. He was charged with attempted murder and intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. At the Central Criminal Court, a jury unanimously found him not guilty by reason of insanity on both counts on 16 April 2026 after 32 minutes of deliberation. On 24 April 2026, Judge Tony Hunt committed him to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane, Co Dublin, under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Apr
- Acquitted16 Apr
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gary O'Shaughnessy struck his partially blind brother Mark O'Shaughnessy on the head with a hammer five times and cut his neck with a knife, exposing the internal structures of the neck, at Ailesbury House, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, between 15 and 16 May 2024.
- Gary was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2015 and had stopped taking his antipsychotic medication about five months before the offence.
- Gary had a history of noncompliance with antipsychotic medication and had not attended outpatient appointments in the lead-up to the attack.
- Gary suffered from an alcohol disorder but had not been drinking on the day of the attack.
- Where
- The attack took place at Ailesbury House, Lynn Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
- When
- The incident occurred between 15 and 16 May 2024.
- Charges
- Gary was charged with the attempted murder of his brother Mark and with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm.
- Gary pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges.
- In court
- The three-day trial was heard before Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court.
- The jury unanimously returned verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity on both counts on 16 April 2026 after 32 minutes of deliberation.
- Sentence
- Judge Tony Hunt committed Gary to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane, Co Dublin, on 24 April 2026 under section 13 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006.
- Other details
- Two forensic psychiatrists, Dr Michael Isaac and Dr Mark Joynt, testified that Gary was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and fulfilled the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity.
43 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGary told gardaí he hit Mark on the side of the head five times with a hammer and also tried to slash his own wrists. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGary was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2015 and had stopped taking his medication about five months before the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Michael Isaac found that the accused did not know the nature and quality of the act and could not refrain from committing it. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Mark Joynt diagnosed the accused with paranoid schizophrenia and comorbid alcohol dependency. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Joynt said the accused did not know what he was doing was wrong and was unable to refrain from committing the act. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGary O'Shaughnessy attacked his brother with a hammer and knife (irishtimes.com)
- whatGary had a history of noncompliance with antipsychotic medication (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe had not attended outpatient appointments in the lead-up to the attack (irishtimes.com)
- whatGary suffered from an alcohol disorder (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe had not been drinking on the day of the attack (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe jury accepted that Gary was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attack (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe struck his brother with a hammer on the head (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe cut his brother's neck with a knife (irishtimes.com)
- whatGary O'Shaughnessy was 39 years old at the time of the trial. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim Mark O'Shaughnessy was 42 years old. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe jury unanimously accepted that Gary was suffering from schizophrenia when he attempted to murder his brother. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe jury deliberated for 32 minutes before delivering its verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGary had a history of non-compliance with his antipsychotic medication. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGary had not attended outpatient appointments in the lead-up to the attack. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDuring the attack, Gary struck his brother with a hammer on the head. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDuring the attack, Gary cut his brother's neck with a knife, exposing the internal structures of the neck. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack took place at Ailesbury House, Lynn Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack occurred at Ailesbury House, Lynn Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGary was committed to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred between 15 and 16 May 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack took place between 15 and 16 May 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe jury returned its verdict on 16 April 2026 at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whenJudge Tony Hunt made the commitment order on Friday 24 April 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is further charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to his brother on the same date and location. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with the attempted murder of his brother Mark (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was further charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGary was charged with the attempted murder of his brother. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGary was charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to his brother. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGary pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard before Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of seven men and five women deliberated for 32 minutes (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity on both counts (irishtimes.com)
- courtHis return before court is scheduled for 24 April 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial lasted three days at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe commitment was made under section 13 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. (irishtimes.com)
- courtRonan Kennedy SC prosecuted the case. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Apr2026Man who attacked vulnerable brother with hammer and knife committed to Central Mental Hospital
Reports the commitment order made by Judge Tony Hunt on 24 April 2026, committing Gary O'Shaughnessy to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane following the 16 April 2026 jury verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, and details the trial evidence including the hammer and knife attack, the victim's vulnerability, and the defendant's schizophrenia diagnosis.
victim, 42, male, irish (judged from name)accused, 39, male, irish (judged from name) - 16 Apr2026Mullingar man found not guilty of attempted murder of his brother by reason of insanity
Verdict delivered on 16 April 2026; defendant committed to Central Mental Hospital with return before court scheduled for 24 April 2026.
accused, 39, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 42, male, irish (judged from name) - 16 Apr2026Care assistant found vulnerable patient ‘drained’ of blood by brother, court hears
First day of trial: care assistant Louise McGloin and paramedic Gary Finley gave evidence describing the scene, and two forensic psychiatrists (Dr Michael Isaac for the defence, Dr Mark Joynt for the prosecution) testified that the accused suffered from schizophrenia and fulfils the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
accused, 39, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 42, male, irish (judged from name)