De Rossa believed his son was going to kill him

A jury is being asked to decide if the son of former Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa was insane when he assaulted his father in their Dublin home.

The politician had just returned home from the inauguration of President Michael D Higgins when Fearghal De Rossa, aged 46 started his seemingly unprovoked attack. Proinsias was in hospital for six days and required surgery to his forearm.

A taxi driver who helped stop the attack told gardaí he believed the accused was trying to kill his father.