A Kilkenny man who killed his brother while suffering from schizophrenia was given a suspended sentence yesterday on condition he remain in a psychiatric hospital. Judge Kieran O'Connor imposed the three-year suspended term at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when he was told Bernard Carroll was resident in St Otteran's Hospital in Waterford. Carroll agreed with Judge O'Connor that he was happy in the hospital and was well looked after there.
The court heard Carroll fired two shots from a legally-held shotgun because he was annoyed by his brother who was playing pop music loudly. One shot went through the roof of the house and the second hit the dead man in the shoulder. His body may have lain undiscovered for two days.
The shotgun cartridges had been bought in 1963 and the gun had been kept in what they called "mother's room", Supt Kevin Donaghue said. Carroll, who is in his 50s and a former journalist, of Piltown, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr James Carroll (54) at their home between December 14th and December 18th, 1993.
Defence counsel Mr Patrick McCarthy SC said the High Court ordered on January 30th, 1995, that Carroll should not leave the hospital without the court's permission. Mr McCarthy said his client was very sorry for what he had done.
The superintendent told Mr Feargal Kavanagh, prosecuting, that both men were single. The accused man lived for a number of years on the farm which James had inherited in 1975.
Carroll had worked previously as a journalist for the Munster Ex- press and he also worked for the Irish Press for a short period. He became ill with chronic schizophrenia and was treated in hospital. Afterwards he lived on the farm and received medication. There were no complaints about his behaviour.
About two years before the shooting there was a breakdown in his medication. But for this, the "tragic" incident may not have happened, Supt Donaghue said.