A DUBLIN man who broke into his neighbour’s home and attacked the family living there with a knife has been found not guilty by reason of insanity at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Desmond Hogan ordered that Mark Larkin (37) be committed to the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin, until further order after a jury returned the special verdict following just over 30 minutes of deliberation.
Larkin, a bricklayer, formerly of Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack, pleaded “not guilty by reason of insanity” to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Keith Kelly at his home on January 18th, 2008. He had also denied assault causing harm to Julie Kelly, Peter Kelly and Wayne Kelly, and production of a knife.
The jury heard medical evidence from Dr Conor O’Neill, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital, who said Larkin suffered from paranoid schizophrenia which was the most serious form of mental disorder. Larkin had “a paranoid delusional belief” that his neighbours were acting against him.
The jury heard that there was a history of mental illness in Larkin’s family.
Larkin broke into his next-door neighbour’s house at around 5.30am and stabbed Mr Kelly after alleging his family had stolen €3,500 from him.
He then forced his way into a bedroom wielding a knife. He confronted Ms Kelly and her children and demanded the return of his belongings.
Larkin had broken into the house after throwing a garden bench through a window and he also stabbed three other people who came to help the stricken family.