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. 7813Murder · Co. Dublin · 20 Jun 2021

Man found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity over killing of father in Firhouse, Dublin

Gareth Sheeran, 32, was charged with murdering his father, Harry Sheeran, 65, at their home in Carriglea View, Firhouse, Dublin, on Father's Day, June 20, 2021. Gardaí recorded Sheeran saying, "I was upset. I attacked him." At the Central Criminal Court in July 2023, Sheeran pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and two psychiatrists agreed he had a mental disorder at the time of the killing. On July 21, 2023, a jury returned a unanimous not guilty by reason of insanity verdict after 42 minutes, and the matter was adjourned to August 25.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court20 Jul
    2 reports
  5. Acquitted21 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gareth Sheeran, 32, was charged with murdering his father, Harry Sheeran, 65.
Where
The killing took place at the family home at Carriglea View, Firhouse, Dublin.
When
The killing happened on Father's Day, June 20, 2021.
Cause
  • Harry Sheeran died from stab wounds; the postmortem found wounds to the chest, back, left arm and right leg, and one report described the fatal stabbing as to the heart.
  • The defence said Sheeran was suffering a relapse of schizophrenia, and a psychiatrist said he has schizophrenia with persecutory delusions.
Weapon
The weapon was a second World War bayonet.
Investigation
  • Gardaí found Harry Sheeran lying in a large pool of blood at the house.
  • Sheeran told gardaí, "I was upset. I attacked him."
  • Sheeran told gardaí he stabbed his father with a World War II bayonet-type object.
Charges
Gareth Sheeran was charged with the murder of his father.
In court
  • Sheeran pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and the trial in the Central Criminal Court was heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of seven men and five women.
  • Two psychiatrists agreed Sheeran had a mental disorder at the time of the killing and met the requirements for not guilty by reason of insanity.
  • The matter was adjourned to August 25.
Sentence
On July 21, 2023, the jury returned a unanimous not guilty by reason of insanity verdict after 42 minutes of deliberation.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGareth Sheeran killed his father by stabbing him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA 32-year-old man killed his father by stabbing him with a second World War bayonet. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGareth Sheeran killed his father by stabbing him with a bayonet. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing happened at the home in Carriglea View, Firhouse, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe killing happened at the family address in Firhouse, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing happened at the Sheeran home at Carriglea View in Firhouse, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing happened on Father's Day, June 20, 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe killing took place on Father's Day, June 20th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing happened on Father’s Day, June 20th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeHarry Sheeran died from stab wounds to the chest and leg. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe defence claimed Sheeran was suffering a relapse of schizophrenia. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeMr Sheeran suffers from schizophrenia. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe weapon was a World War II bayonet. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon was a second World War bayonet. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí found Harry Sheeran lying in a large pool of blood at the house. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGareth Sheeran told gardaí, "I was upset. I attacked him." (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found Harry Sheeran lying on the ground in a large pool of blood. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationSheeran told gardaí, "I was upset. I attacked him." (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí reported the defendant saying he attacked his father. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGareth Sheeran is charged with the murder of his father. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGareth Sheeran is charged with murdering his father, Harry Sheeran (65). (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGareth Sheeran has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtSheeran has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of seven men and five women. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was tried in the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury returned a unanimous not guilty by reason of insanity verdict after 42 minutes of deliberation. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe matter was adjourned to August 25th. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe postmortem found stab wounds to the chest, back, left arm and right leg. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe psychiatrist said Gareth Sheeran has schizophrenia. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe psychiatrist said Gareth Sheeran met the requirements for not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSheeran told gardaí he stabbed his father with a WWII bayonet-type object. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe pathologist said death occurred through stab wounds to the chest and leg. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe psychiatrist said Sheeran met all three requirements for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo psychiatrists agreed Mr Sheeran had a mental disorder at the time of the killing. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Jul2023
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who killed father with bayonet found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity

    Reports the Central Criminal Court verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, expert psychiatric evidence, and the adjournment to August 25th.

    victim, Harry Sheeran, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Harry Sheeranaccused, Gareth Sheeran, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gareth Sheeran
  2. 20 Jul2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who killed father with bayonet had relapse of schizophrenia, trial hears

    Reports the trial evidence: a psychiatrist's testimony that the accused was suffering a relapse of schizophrenia and met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity, plus garda and pathology evidence of the stabbing.

    accused, Gareth Sheeran, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gareth Sheeranvictim, Harry Sheeran, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Harry Sheeran
  3. 20 Jul2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Dublin man 'stabbed father in the heart with WWII bayonet', court hears

    Reports the Central Criminal Court trial, including evidence from gardaí, the pathologist and a consultant forensic psychiatrist, and the defence of not guilty by reason of insanity.

    accused, Gareth Sheeran, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gareth Sheeranvictim, Harry Sheeran, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Harry Sheeran