Man acquitted of attempting to murder estranged wife committed to mental hospital

A 40-year-old man has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital for an indefinite period after he was acquitted of attempting to murder his estranged wife by reason of insanity.

Alexander Gano, a Slovakian man with a last address at Connaught Street in Dublin 7, was found not guilty of the crime by a jury at the Central Criminal Court on June 29.

Mr Gano, who had previously worked as a builder, had pleaded not guilty to attempted murder or to causing serious harm to Monica Ganova at North Circular Road in Dublin 7 on July 12, 2010.

The court heard that Gano stabbed his estranged wife, with whom he had eight children, in the deluded belief that she was trying to poison him.

Mr Gano also believed that a local kebab shop was trying to poison him, and that his wife was a threat to Slovakia.

Psychiatrist Dr Sally Linehan told the court that Mr Gano is a paranoid schizophrenic, a mental illness which she described as a “severe and enduring”.

Dr Linehan said Mr Gano continues to require treatment as an in-patient in secure conditions at the Central Mental Hospital, subject to ongoing review.

She said Mr Gano represents a grave risk to others as his judgement is impaired and that any failure to continue his treatment would be liable to lead to a serious deterioration in his condition.

The court heard that Mr Gano attacked his wife with a knife and she had to be treated for a deep laceration to her neck at the Mater Hospital but has since recovered.

Mr Justice Paul Carney accepted the psychiatrist's conclusion that it would be in Mr Gano's best interests to continue to receive specialist treatment in secure conditions at the Central Mental Hospital, and he made an order accordingly of the terms sought by the prosecution.