TOM SHIEL
A man (25) stabbed his mother 10 times with a kitchen knife and kicked her and beat her with a brush handle until it broke, a sitting of the Central Criminal Court was told yesterday in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury heard that Paul Henry attacked Ann Henry at 3 The Spinney, Abbeytown, Roscommon town, on September 17th, 2011, after taking umbrage at her suggestion as to where he should live.
The accused denies a charge of murdering his mother (47) who “stumbled” from her home after being stabbed.
Opening the case for the prosecution yesterday, Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, counsel for the DPP, said Henry had been involuntarily detained in a mental hospital for a number of weeks before the incident in which his mother died.
Counsel said the accused and his mother had been cleaning her house when “a row of sorts” developed.
Neighbours shouted 'stop'
"Neighbours said she got pushed and kicked to the ground," said Ms Ní Raifeartaigh. "He kicked her repeatedly. People shouted at him to stop."
Counsel explained that after gardaí restrained Paul Henry and took him away people tried to reassure Ms Henry.
“She was dead by the time she got to hospital,” Ms Ní Raifeartaigh explained to the jury of six men and six women.
The accused had shown signs of mental difficulties from an early stage, she said.
The case continues.