A Dublin man was yesterday found guilty of the murder of his five-year-old daughter in July 2000, but insane.
After almost four hours of deliberation, the jury returned its 10-2 verdict on Mr James Joseph Byrne for the murder of Nicole Byrne at the family home at Cromcastle Drive, Coolock, on July 6th, 2000.
Mr Justice Carney directed that Mr Byrne be detained at the Central Mental Hospital Dundrum until the pleasure of the Government be known.
He had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted killing the child, Nicole, while suffering from depression. He had strangled her with his own pyjama cord.
The State Psychiatrist, Dr Charles Smith, had told the Central Criminal Court that Mr Byrne was suffering from a serious depression before, during and after the killing. He had no doubt that the killing was illness-driven and that it was a major contributor to Nicole's death. However, the illness was not psychotic in nature.
During the four-day trial the jury heard that Mr Byrne's illness coincided with Nicole becoming increasingly difficult to handle.
However, Dr Smith said that Mr Byrne had not been provoked by the child's behaviour.
The court heard evidence that after killing Nicole he had tried to commit suicide.
The court heard that the reason for killing his daughter was so as not to leave his wife, Sylvia, with two children, one of whom was difficult.
He believed that having to cope with Nicole and their 11-year-old son, James, would have proved an excessive burden for his wife, in the event of his suicide.