Case No. 0470Murder · Co. Dublin · 12 Dec 2024
Solicitor Dáire McCormack-George found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
Dáire McCormack-George, a 31-year-old solicitor, stabbed his father Scott George, 76, 27 times at the family home in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, on 12 December 2024 during a psychotic episode. The stabbing occurred during a relapse of schizoaffective disorder that coincided with a reduction in his antipsychotic medication. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on 27 July 2026 and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murder. On 30 July 2026, a jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and he was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital until 13 August.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court27 Jul
4 reports - Acquitted30 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Dáire McCormack-George, 31, a solicitor formerly employed at Mason Hayes & Curran in Dublin city, stabbed his father Scott George, 76, 27 times at the family home in Balbriggan on 12 December 2024.
- Where
- The killing took place at Drumans End, Tobersool, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, where Scott George was found face down in a back room with blood all around him and on the wall.
- When
- The stabbing occurred on 12 December 2024, and the accused phoned his sister at about 11pm to tell her he had killed their father.
- Cause
- The stabbing occurred during a relapse of schizoaffective disorder that coincided with a reduction in his antipsychotic medication dosage; he had been first diagnosed with a mental health disorder in 2018.
- Weapon
- The accused picked up two knives at his apartment in Cabra, Dublin 7, before driving to Balbriggan; the pathologist found 42 sharp force injuries including at least 27 stab wounds, the deepest going to 12.5cm.
- Investigation
- Det Garda Ultan McIlroy arrived at the scene having been called by a neighbour and found Scott George face down in a back room with significant injuries to the back of his neck and further stab wounds.
- Charges
- Dáire McCormack-George was charged with the murder of Scott George at Drumans End, Tobersool, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, on 12 December 2024.
- In court
- He was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 27 July 2026 and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity; the trial was presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of ten men and two women.
- Two psychiatrists gave evidence that he should not be held responsible for his actions, and a psychiatrist diagnosed him with a schizoaffective disorder with a delusional belief that his father was going to kill his mother and sister.
- Sentence
- On 30 July 2026, the jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and he was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital until 13 August for a psychiatric treatment plan.
- Other details
- The accused had graduated with a law degree from Trinity College, attended Oxford University for a year, and completed a four-year PhD in three years at Trinity.
- His sister Hillary and mother Goretti attended every day of the court proceedings, and his family told gardaí he had never shown any aggression prior to the attack.
90 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe accused told gardaí he continued stabbing his father even as his father told him he loved him (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused stabbed his father 27 times (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused told detectives he believed he was doing the right thing (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused said he had paranoid thoughts that his father would hurt his mother and sister (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe father showed the accused family pictures before the stabbing that he had not seen before (irishtimes.com)
- whatIt is accepted the accused inflicted the injuries that caused his father's death (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused has a history of psychosis and was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the killing (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused had finished work with solicitor firm Mason, Hayes & Curran in Dublin city (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused picked up Christmas gifts and two knives at his apartment in Cabra (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe father was alone at home as his sister and mother were visiting family members in Navan (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe sister and mother arrived at the family home about 12 minutes later (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe sister found the accused with blood on his clothes (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Garda Ultan McIlroy arrived having been called by a neighbour (irishtimes.com)
- whatScott George was found lying face down in a back room with blood all around him and on the wall (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim had significant injuries to the back of his neck and further stab wounds (irishtimes.com)
- whatA knife was found on the ground and placed in an evidence bag (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe stabbed his physically frail and housebound father to death during a psychotic episode (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe has friends who visit him regularly in the Central Mental Hospital (irishtimes.com)
- whatHis former girlfriend visits him every six weeks (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe has the full love and support of his sister and their mother Goretti (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA psychiatrist diagnosed him with a schizoaffective disorder (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe father had been stabbed 27 times (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe graduated with a law degree from Trinity College (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe attended Oxford University for a year (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe completed a four-year PhD in three years at Trinity (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatAt least 27 of the injuries were stab wounds (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn incised wound to the neck damaged the left jugular vein (irishtimes.com)
- whatOther stab wounds caused damage to the lungs, diaphragm and other organs (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe deepest wound went to 12.5cm (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere was evidence of defensive type injuries (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused's family told gardaí he had never shown any aggression prior to the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused's sister Hillary described the stabbing as a tragic accident. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused has friends who visit him regularly at the Central Mental Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBy the time of the stabbing, his medication dosage had been reduced to a very low level. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA psychiatrist diagnosed the accused with a schizoaffective disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused developed a delusional belief that his father was going to kill his mother and sister. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatScott George had been stabbed 27 times. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused graduated with a law degree from Trinity College. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDaire McCormack George is a 31-year-old lawyer who stabbed his father 27 times during a psychotic episode. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was first diagnosed with a mental health disorder in 2018. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatHe developed a psychotic delusion that his frail, housebound father was going to kill his mother and sister. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatHe came to believe he had to kill his father to save his mother and sister. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDuring the attack his father told him he loved him but he kept stabbing him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe worked at the solicitor firm Mason, Hayes & Curran in Dublin city. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe picked up Christmas gifts and two knives from his apartment in Cabra before driving to Balbriggan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHis father was found face down in a back room with blood all around him and on the wall, with significant injuries to the back of his neck and further stab wounds. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIn his first interview at Balbriggan Garda Station he said he killed his father but did not consider himself guilty of a crime. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe had a nervous breakdown the previous summer after going to Oxford University. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDáire McCormack-George is a 31-year-old lawyer with a strong academic pedigree (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe stabbed his father Scott George 27 times (irishtimes.com)
- whatHis sister Hillary and mother Goretti attended every day of the court proceedings (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe accused has an address at Cabra Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe accused drove to the family home in Balbriggan (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe was treated at Beaumont Hospital (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe has an address at Cabra Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7 (irishtimes.com)
- whereScott George died at his home at Drumans End, Tobersool, Balbriggan (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe was treated at Beaumont Hospital for his mental health. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHis address is Cabra Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe victim died at his home at Drumans End, Tobersool, Balbriggan (irishtimes.com)
- whereDáire McCormack-George had an address at Cabra Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7 (irishtimes.com)
- whenAt about 11pm the accused spoke to his sister on the phone and told her he had killed their father (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe stabbing occurred on 12 December 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe accused's mental health began to suffer in 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenScott George died on 12 December 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing took place on 12 December 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenAt about 11pm he spoke to his sister on the phone and told her he had killed their father. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing occurred on 12 December 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe relapse of his psychosis coincided with the reduction of medication. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe stabbing occurred during a relapse of schizoaffective disorder coinciding with a reduction in antipsychotic medication dosage. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe stabbing occurred during a relapse of schizoaffective disorder (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe relapse coincided with a reduction in antipsychotic medication (irishtimes.com)
- causeHe believed he had to kill his father to save his mother and sister (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDáire McCormack-George, 31, is charged with the murder of Scott George at Drumans End, Tobersool, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, on 12 December 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murder (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his father (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his father. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his 76-year-old father Scott George. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Monday on a single charge of murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe prosecution is led by senior counsel Vincent Heneghan and the defence by senior counsel Michael Bowman. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury was sworn in and the trial is due to begin on Tuesday at 2pm before Judge Eileen Creedon. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDet Garda Ultan McIlroy gave evidence at the trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtDet Garda Ultan McIlroy gave evidence at the trial of Dáire McCormack-George. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital until August 13 for a psychiatric treatment plan. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial was presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of ten men and two women. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury was exempted from further service for five years. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtTwo psychiatrists gave evidence that he should not be held responsible for his actions (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital until 13 August (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was formerly employed as a solicitor at Mason Hayes & Curran in Dublin city. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused had lived at the Balbriggan address for part of his life but also at another address. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jul2026Solicitor who stabbed father 27 times found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
Reports the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, details of the trial including psychiatric evidence, the judge's remarks, and the remand to Central Mental Hospital.
victim, Scott George, 76, male, irish (judged from name)Scott Georgeaccused, Dáire McCormack-George, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dáire McCormack-George - 30 Jul2026Lawyer who stabbed father 27 times while 'he told me loved me' learns fate
Reports the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, trial evidence including the sequence of events on the night of the killing, psychiatric evidence, and the remand to Central Mental Hospital.
victim, Scott George, 76, male, irish (judged from name)Scott Georgeaccused, Daire McCormack George, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daire McCormack George - 29 Jul2026Man who stabbed his dad to death 'still enjoys love and support of his family'
Trial evidence on 29 July 2026: family character references, mental health history since 2018, psychiatric testimony on schizoaffective disorder and delusional beliefs, and pathologist's findings of 42 sharp force injuries including 27 stab wounds.
victim, Scott George, male, irish (judged from name)Scott Georgeaccused, Daire McCormack George, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daire McCormack George - 29 Jul2026Lawyer who stabbed father retains love and support of his family, court hears
Trial evidence includes family testimony of ongoing support, psychiatric diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder with delusional beliefs, pathologist's findings of 42 sharp force injuries, and the accused's academic and personal history.
victim, Scott George, male, irish (judged from name)Scott Georgeaccused, Daire McCormack George, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daire McCormack George - 29 Jul2026Lawyer stabbed father to death as he told him he loved him, trial hears
Trial proceedings detail the accused's statements to gardaí, the sequence of events on the night of the killing (picking up knives at his Cabra apartment, driving to Balbriggan, stabbing his father, phoning his sister at 11pm), the discovery of the body by Det Garda Ultan McIlroy, and the prosecution's case that the accused suffered from a mental disorder rendering him not guilty by reason of insanity. Trial continues before Judge Eileen Creedon.
victim, Scott George, 76, male, irish (judged from name)Scott Georgeaccused, Daire McCormack George, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daire McCormack George - 27 Jul2026Former solicitor pleads not guilty to murdering father in north Dublin by reason of insanity
Reports the arraignment and start of the trial, including the plea, the judge's instructions to the jury panel on the psychiatric issue, the legal teams, and the expected timeline for the verdict.
victim, Scott George, male, irish (judged from name)Scott Georgeaccused, Dáire McCormack-George, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dáire McCormack-George