Man not guilty of matricide

A 28-year-old man who stabbed his mother to death with a kitchen knife was found not guilty of murder by a jury last evening by reason of insanity.

However, the decision does not mean Paul Henry, who knifed, punched, and kicked his 47-year-old mother, Ann Henry, before her death at Abbeytown, Roscommon Town, on September 17, 2011, will walk free.

Mr Justice Paul Carney said a not guilty by insanity verdict did not mean Henry, who has been detained at the Central Mental Hospital since the killing, will go free.

“There is a programme that will be instituted to protect himself and protect others,” the judge said.

The jury, six men and six women, reached a verdict on a 10-2 majority.

Judge Carney put the case back to a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar on May 7.