US man who killed father at Laois hotel to stay in Central Mental Hospital after insanity verdict

Alison O'Riordan

A wealthy New Yorker who strangled his father at a five-star midlands resort after the 66-year-old had travelled from the US on a "mission of mercy" to help his son, continues to suffer from a mental disorder and has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

A Central Criminal Court judge made the order this afternoon, two weeks after a jury returned the special verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity following the trial of Henry McGowan.

On February 12th at the Central Criminal Court, a jury accepted the evidence of two psychiatrists that the defendant was suffering from schizoaffective disorder when he killed his father just over an hour after arriving at the Ballyfin Demesne hotel and fulfilled the criteria for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Henry McGowan (31), with an address at Clinton Street, Brooklyn, New York had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of John McGowan (66) at Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, Co Laois, on November 12th, 2024.

Brendan Grehan, prosecuting, told Justice Paul McDermott on Thursday that he had a report from consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Mark Joynt of the Central Mental Hospital (CMH).

Dr Joynt, who appeared via video-link, told Grehan he had been tasked with preparing a report on Henry McGowan pursuant to section 5(3) of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 as to whether the defendant is suffering from a mental disorder and is in need of inpatient care at the CMH.

Dr Joynt said the defendant had been transferred from various units within the CMH to date, which has been based on him making satisfactory progress.

The witness told the prosecutor that Henry McGowan has fully accepted his diagnosis of having a mental illness and his need for treatment.

Dr Joynt also said the defendant had told him that he is absolutely committed to remaining on his medication - which includes a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication - to prevent a relapse of his mental illness.

Dr Joynt said in his opinion Henry McGowan's symptoms and history are most consistent with schizoaffective disorder.

The expert witness said, having examined the defendant, he is of the view that he does present with a severe relapsing mental illness in the absence of appropriate care and treatment.

The witness said McGowan met the criteria for a mental disorder as defined in the Mental Health Act 2001 and has a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.

He also said that because of the severity of the illness, the defendant's judgment is so impaired that a failure to continue to detain him in the CMH could lead to a serious deterioration in his condition.

Dr Joynt said Henry McGowan has demonstrated a positive response to his initial treatment. However, he said the defendant has significant outstanding treatment needs and requires specialist treatment and intervention which can only be provided by the CMH.

The expert witness said McGowan continues to suffer from a mental disorder and is in need of inpatient care. He said the defendant requires specialist inpatient treatment, which cannot be afforded at any other setting.

Dr Joynt recommended that McGowan be returned to the CMH, where he will be further reviewed at regular intervals, and confirmed that there is a bed available for him there.

Justice McDermott said Dr Joynt had given the opinion that failure to detain the defendant would lead to a serious deterioration in his treatment.

The judge committed McGowan to the CMH under the provisions of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 to continue his treatment until an order is "ultimately made in the future" under section 13 of the act, when his "condition hopefully improves".

Justice McDermott called it a "very difficult and traumatic case" for the McGowan family.

The judge also referenced the trial and the jurors hearing how this "terrible tragedy had unfolded". He said he could only wish McGowan well in the future and extended his sympathy to the family.

As part of a pilot project BreakingNews.ie has used AI to suggest headline options for this article. The final headline was chosen and edited by BreakingNews.ie journalists. Find out more