Psychiatrist tells murder trial that Kerry man was insane when he killed his mother

Dr Mullaney said that in his opinion Patrick Dunne's mental state fulfilled the criteria for a "special verdict", that being "not guilty by reason of insanity"

Patrick Dunne (pictured, left) admits killing his mother Susan Dunne in 2013 but denies her murder, File picture: Eamonn Keogh

A consultant psychiatrist has told a murder trial jury that a man who killed his mother with a hatchet after an argument over an iPhone was insane at the time of her death.

Defence expert witness, Dr Ronan Mullaney, told the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday that Patrick Dunne, who admits killing his mother Susan Dunne in 2013 but denies her murder, was incapable of controlling his actions or emotions on the night.