Corkman accused of murdering brother Shane Murphy while 'in acute psychotic state', court told

The court was told that above anything else this was a family tragedy for the man who lost his life saving his father’s life, for the family who remain and indeed for the accused man himself

John Murphy Jnr of Seaview Avenue, Carrigaline, County Cork, was charged with the murder of his 27-year-old brother, Shane Murphy (pictured).

Psychiatrists for the prosecution and defence both agreed that the 43-year-old Carrigaline man accused of murdering his brother and attempting to murder his father was in an an acute psychotic state as a result of schizophrenic illness at the time.

This evidence was presented in a case where the issue the jury will have to decide is whether the accused man is not guilty by reason of insanity.