Man not guilty by reason of insanity of neighbour's murder while grandkids were in house
A man has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of his neighbour in Mourne Park, Skerries in Co Dublin three years ago.
Medical experts told the jurors that Dragos Nica was experiencing an acute episode of schizophrenia when he stabbed Michael Gannon to death.
When Michael Gannon opened the front door of his daughter’s home on Nov 14, 2013, Nica stabbed him once in the chest.
His two grandchildren were in the house at the time and the 31-year-old later told gardaí he thought about killing them too.
The trial heard he’d noticed a bulge on his arm that day and was convinced he'd been "zapped" with a poison by Mr. Gannon’s daughter.
The jurors were told he had a history of mental illness and was psychotic at the time of the stabbing.
They returned the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after deliberating for less than an hour.
Speaking afterwards, Patrick Gannon said his brother Michael was a devoted family man.
"He was a cracking father, grandfather and brother. He was a good friend," he said. "He was hard-working, just an ordinary bloke...He'd do anything for anyone."
Dragos Nica has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital for a full assessment and is due back in court later this month
