A man who admitted killing his neighbour with an axe was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
The jury took just over 30 minutes to unanimously find Mr Cormac Guinan (57), of Ard Aobhinn, Mountbolas, Tullamore, Co Offaly, not guilty of murdering Mr Patrick Lee (74), of the same address, on April 29th, 1997. Mr Guinan had denied the charge.
Mr Justice Patrick Smith ordered that Mr Guinan be held at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, or some such appropriate place until the pleasure of the Government was known.