A prosecutor has told a double murder trial that the accused had made a decision to kill two elderly brothers in acts of extreme violence.

However, the defendant’s barrister said that the ‘poisoned gift’ of mental disorders he’d been given at birth had played a role in his ‘disgusting and repulsive acts’ and thus diminished his responsibility.

Both sides gave their closing speeches to the Central Criminal Court today in the trial of 30-year-old Alan Cawley.

Mr Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, Co Mayo has admitted killing Thomas Blaine (69) and John (Jack) Blaine (76). However, he has pleaded not guilty to ….read more

A forensic psychiatrist for the State has told a Mayo man’s murder trial that he was voluntarily intoxicated, leading him to act in ‘an extremely impulsive and violent way’, when he killed two elderly brothers with special needs. She said he did not have a mental disorder in law.

It follows the evidence of a defence psychiatrist, who told the Central Criminal Court that Alan Cawley had three mental disorders at the time, which had diminished his responsibility for his actions and would give the jury the option of finding him guilty of manslaughter rather than murder.

The 30-year-old of Four Winds, ….read more

A forensic psychiatrist for the State has told a Mayo man’s murder trial that although he had personality disorders when he killed two elderly brothers with special needs, they did not qualify as mental disorders in law.

It follows the evidence earlier this week of a defence psychiatrist, who told the Central Criminal Court that Alan Cawley had three mental disorders at the time and that they had diminished his responsibility for his actions.

If satisfied that he had a qualifying mental disorder, the jury could find him guilty of manslaughter rather than murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The 30-year-old of ….read more

A psychiatrist has told a murder trial that the killer had three mental disorders, which diminished his responsibility, when he attacked two elderly brothers with special needs in their Mayo home.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Pawan Rajpal was giving evidence for the defence today in the Central Criminal Court trial of 30-year-old Alan Cawley.

Mr Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, Co Mayo has admitted killing Thomas Blaine (69) and John (Jack) Blaine (76). However, he has pleaded not guilty to murdering them on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar.

Dr Rajpal told Caroline Biggs SC, defending, that he studied the ….read more

A Mayo man said he poured boiling water over a disabled pensioner’s genitals and beat the victim’s elderly brother in his bed because he thought that, as they were living together, ‘maybe’ they were child molesters.

Alan Cawley’s murder trial also heard details of the extensive injuries suffered by the elderly brothers in what the State Pathologist described as ‘overkill’.

The 30-year-old is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering Thomas Blaine and John (Jack) Blaine. Both had special needs and speech impediments.

Mr Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, Co Mayo has admitted killing the brothers. However, he has ….read more

A Mayo man killed two elderly brothers in their home just hours after telling strangers in a pub that he was a doctor, who would carry out autopsies on any bodies found that night.

Alan Cawley’s murder trial also heard that he threatened to have one customer ‘committed’ with the help of the Gardaí to prevent him killing his wife.

The evidence was heard today at the Central Criminal Court, where the 30-year-old is on trial charged with murdering both Thomas Blaine and John (Jack) Blaine. They were found beaten to death four years ago.

Mr Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, Co ….read more

A woman, who had cared for two elderly brothers for almost a decade, became emotional in court today, as she described finding their bodies covered in blood in their Mayo home four years ago.

The murder trial also heard that pieces of skin ‘appeared to have been removed’ from the stomach of one of the men, and that their killer had been released from prison a few days earlier.

The evidence was heard today at the Central Criminal Court, where Alan Cawley is on trial. He’s charged with murdering both Thomas Blaine and John (Jack) Blaine, who were beaten to death.

The 30-year-old ….read more

A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a father-of-three by shooting him with a shotgun in the chest before reloading and shooting him in the head.

Seán Ducque also received a 12-year sentence for the armed robbery a few hours earlier of a taxi driver, who has had to give up his career.

Ducque, of no fixed abode, had admitted killing Kieran Farrelly (33) on 26th October 2014 at Killarney Court, Killarney Street in Dublin. However, the father-of-one said that the deceased had provoked him by threatening to punch his head in.

He pleaded not guilty to murder ….read more

A 30-year-old Mayo man has admitted killing two elderly brothers, who were beaten to death in their Castlebar home four years ago.

Alan Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering the men, one of whom was disabled and was scalded during the assault.

He has pleaded not guilty to murdering both Thomas Blaine and John (Jack) Blaine on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street, Castlebar.

Denis Vaughan Buckley SC opened the case for the State this afternoon. He said that there would be no issue but that the accused had caused ….read more

A 30-year-old Mayo man will go on trial this afternoon, charged with the murder of two elderly brothers in the county four years ago.

Alan Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this morning.

He was charged with two counts of murder on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street, Castlebar. He stood and pleaded not guilty to murdering both John Blaine and Thomas Blaine.

Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy then swore in a jury to hear his trial.

She told the four women and eight men that the trial would last 10 to 12 working days and would ….read more