Reilly accused did not suffer from mental illness - psychiatrist

A former soldier accused of murdering an 18-month infant did not suffer from mental illness, a consultant psychiatrist told the Central Criminal Court today.

Dr Damian Mohan, consultant psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, examined the accused man, Mr John Reilly on February 15 last.

"He was not suffering from any form of mental illness," the witness told the jury.

In other evidence, the court heard that the accused would have had an alcohol level of 340 milligrams around the time of the killing.

The recorded level, taken at midday on June 5, 2000, some hours after the estimated time of the murder, was 240 milligrams.

Professor Ian Hiandmarch, an expert witness specialising in the effects of drugs on the brain - including alcohol - said a "backward calculation" to the estimated time of the accused's last drink suggests a very high level of alcohol of 340 milligrams.

"Between 250 and 350 milligrams co-ordinated movement might not be possible, as the person would be in a stupor, moving, at the extreme end of the range, to virtual unconsciousness," Professor Hiandmarch said.

A person who consumed this amount of alcohol would be "virtually brain dead" and "incapable of any kind of structured thought".

"I really do feel that at these levels, rational thought process for intent is not there", he said, adding that he was not referring to the legal meaning of intent.

"We really are talking about profound effects, to think to reason."

Questioned by prosecution counsel Mr Anthony Sammon SC as to how he arrived at the figure of 340 milligrams, the witness said he used a backward calculation of 18 milligrams per hour allowing some 45 minutes for the alcohol to absorb.

Professor Hiandmarch told the court that he analysed the potency of Poitin consumed by the accused on the night of the killing.

He found it to be 57% proof, some one and a half times the strength of a bottle of Gin.

Mr John Reilly (32) of Crooksling, Brittas, Co Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Oisin Reilly-Murphy of Manor Kilbride, Co Wicklow on 5th June 2000 at Kiltalown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght Co Dublin.

The court has heard that the baby was stabbed to death in the early hours of the morning in a house in which the accused spent the night.

The court has also heard that Mr Reilly, a second cousin of the victim, spent the night drinking and playing cards with the child's parents and two other adults.

The trial continues tomorrow.