Trial begins of man accused of mother's stabbing death
A 32-year-old man has gone on trial for the murder of his mother in Dublin.
Jane Braidwood, a 65-year-old psychiatrist, was stabbed to death at the family home on Clarinda Park in Dun Laoghaire last year.
Fionn Braidwood has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother on January 20 last year.
The jurors were told the facts are not really contested, but they will have to decide whether the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity applies.
They were given a brief overview of Mr Braidwood’s medical history and heard he has been treated for bi-polar, schizophrenia and manic depression.
His sister Ceili was at home on the day in question. She said Fionn was getting worked up because he wanted to go to Australia but his mother thought it was a bad idea.
She described him as “tense and angry” and said he just lost control and stabbed her several times with what she described as a “long, sharp knife”.
She said she heard her mum scream "stop" and said she was punched in the head when she tried to intervene.
She said he also attacked a passerby when the passerby heard the screams for help and tried to call an ambulance.
The trial continues.
