Kerry man was insane 'as defined by law' at the time of his mother's killing, court told

Patrick Dunne from Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, Co. Kerry, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court today, having pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother Susan Dunne, 62

Patrick Dunne (left) has gone on trial today, having pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother Susan Dunne between November 26 and 27, 2013. File picture: Eamonn Keogh 

A 29-year-old man with autism admits killing his mother "without any lawful justification" by inflicting five fatal blows to her head with a hatchet whilst she lay in her bed, a murder trial jury has heard.

It was during the opening of the trial of Patrick Dunne at the Central Criminal Court today that a prosecuting barrister said that expert psychiatrists for both the prosecution and defence are in agreement that the accused was insane "as defined by law" at the time of his mother's death.