Sunday 1 November 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. 22228Attempted murder · Co. Dublin · 28 Jan 2021

Neil O'Dowd found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity; court hears he no longer requires CMH treatment

Neil O'Dowd, 35, was found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity after stabbing his former employer Paul Smith 19 times at the Elphin pub in Sutton, Dublin, on 28 January 2021. At a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 February 2023, a consultant psychiatrist told the court that O'Dowd no longer requires inpatient treatment at the Central Mental Hospital, and no further order was made.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Acquitted23 Feb
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatO'Dowd was found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Dowd stabbed his former employer 19 times (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Dowd is not currently suffering from a mental disorder (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Dowd believed Covid was a conspiracy (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Dowd thought his boss was responsible for the unsolved murder of Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSmith was stabbed repeatedly with three different knives, had glasses smashed over his head, and was beaten with a mop handle (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA total of 19 stab wounds were inflicted on Smith (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSmith suffered a pseudoaneurysm in the artery of his heart requiring surgery and a stent (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident occurred at the Elphin pub on the Baldoyle Road in Sutton (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 28 January 2021 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeO'Dowd was also charged with assault causing harm and the production of knives (irishtimes.com)
  • courtO'Dowd does not require inpatient treatment at the Central Mental Hospital (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hearing took place at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtO'Dowd pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity (irishtimes.com)
  • courtNo further order was made by the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury deliberated for 28 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Feb2023
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man found not guilty of attempted murder no longer suffering from mental disorder

    Reports on a post-verdict Central Criminal Court hearing where Dr Servaise Winkel confirmed O'Dowd no longer requires inpatient treatment at the CMH; Dr Stephen Monks (DPP) agreed; no further order was made by the court.

    victim, Paul Smith, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Smithaccused, Neil O'Dowd, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Neil O'Dowd