Murder accused was ‘hallucinating’

A 22-year-old Mayo man has gone on trial, charged with murdering his mother at their home almost three years ago.

Celyn Eadon of Derrycrieve, Islandeady, Castlebar, admits killing Noreen Kelly, aged 46, at that address on Mar 9, 2011.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to her manslaughter. On the opening day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Mr Eadon was using drugs at the time.

Isobel Kennedy SC, prosecuting, said his younger brother heard him shouting at their mother after she threw a bag of white powder into the fire. She said Garda tests on three charred plastic bags recovered from the fire showed they contained methamphetamine.

The court also heard from recovered drug addict Kevin Mitchell, who had been asked to help the accused.

He said Mr Eadon’s uncle, Patrick Kelly, had first brought him to meet his nephew a few days before the killing.

“He was pretty scared, hallucinating, walking around the forest, seeing fire ants coming for him and demons,” he testified. “I felt it was very serious, like his mind was going.”

He said he told the accused about a place where he could get treatment and tried to make an appointment for him. He said he also told the deceased that her son badly needed help.

He agreed that the deceased called him and Mr Kelly to the house again a few days later. “She said Celyn had poured petrol inside and outside, and was going around with a hatchet,” he said.

The court heard that later that night, the sound of muffled screaming woke Mr Eadon’s younger brother.

“It was the voice of his mother,” said Ms Kennedy. “He found his mother slumped on the living room floor, her face covered in blood.” An autopsy found she died of multiple stab wounds.