Julian Cuddihy. Pic by Northwest News Pix.
A MAN accused of murdering his own parents at their Inishowen home has admitted the killings but was mentally ill at the time, his trial has heard.
Julian Cuddihy (43), of Churchtown, Carndonagh, is charged with the murder of his parents Jimmy (77) and Kathleen (73) at their home in Carn on October 22, 2014.
Mr Cuddihy has pleaded not guilty be reason of insanity.
Counsel for the prosecution told the jury that forensic psychiatrists for both the prosecution and the defence are in agreement and will give evidence that Mr Cuddihy was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time.
The psychiatrists will also say that Mr Cuddihy believed he was carrying out his parents’ wishes at the time and was helping them to secure a place in heaven.
Mr Cuddihy believed he was hearing his mother’s voice telling him to complete the acts.
The court also heard he had incorporated his mother into his persecutory delusions and had an angry resentment towards her because of these delusions.
One psychiatrist will tell the court that Mr Cuddidy did not know that what he was doing was morally wrong and because of his illness he believed he was entirely justified and thought he was facilitating his parents entering heaven.
The jury will hear post-mortem evidence that the cause of death for James and Kathleen Cuddihy was severe head injuries, including chop wounds.
James Cuddihy also had a stab wound to the neck.
In his opening address to the jury, Denis Vaughan Buckley SC said the bodies of Kathleen and James Cuddihy were found by their other son and daughter at their home on 23 October 2014.
Their daughter had climbed through a window to access the house and another son then had to break into the house.
Both had severe injuries and an axe and a scissors were found at the scene.
Julian Cuddihy was arrested a short time later after it became known he had taken his father’s car to a lake area near Clonmanny.
He asked gardaí after his arrest if they were telling him his parents were dead.
He has been receiving treatment at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum since his arrest.
Evidence in the case will be heard tomorrow.