Man found not guilty of murder due to insanity

A man has been found not guilty of the murder of a Dublin grandfather by reason of insanity.

Dragos Nica, aged 30, of Mourne Park, Skerries, Co Dublin, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Michael Gannon, aged 55, at Mourne Park, Skerries, Co Dublin, on November 14, 2013.

The three-day trial heard that Mr Nica, who is from Bacau in Romania, had formed the belief that Mr Gannon’s daughter Jade, had poisoned him.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Gannon’s brother Patrick said that that his brother would do anything for anyone. “He was a hard worker and would do anything for anyone. He was a cracker of a father and a cracker of a brother.”

The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt thanked the jury saying any other verdict would not have been consistent with the evidence and exempted them from jury duty for five years.

He said that Mr Nica is in need of in-patient care and committed him to the Central Mental Hospital to appear in court again on February 15 following examination by a medical officer.