Ex-GAA player guilty of manslaughter

Former GAA star Sean Hackett (19) who shot his father Aloysius “Wishie” Hackett (60) was acquitted of his murder but convicted of manslaughter by reason of “diminished responsibility” at Dungannon Crown Court yesterday.

Even before his week-long trial Hackett had admitted the unlawful killing of his father, whom he shot twice in the head in the driveway of their Aghindarrah Road family home in Augher, Co Tyrone, on January 4th last year.

Initially there was some confusion over the “not guilty” murder verdict, and trial judge Mr Justice Stephens asked the jury to retire. Within moments he called it back to ask if “all of you” had reached a verdict in relation to the alternative charge of manslaughter and diminished responsibilty. The woman foreman said they had reached a “guilty” verdict on the charge.

Mr Justice Stephens remanded Hackett back into custody until further reports on him are obtained before he his sentenced next month.

The trial had heard at one stage from Tyrone GAA supremo Mickey Harte who described the teenager as “a very quite, unassuming, lovely young gentleman ....very warm and very caring ”.

Mr Harte said he had his "eye on him" as a future senior county player and that Hackett, both as a club and county footballer had a "lot to look forward to".

Adjustment disorder
Psychiatrist Dr Fred Browne said Hackett was suffering from "an adjustment disorder" brought on by the break-up with his girlfriend. However that could in no way excuse or explain his homicidal tendencies and the feeling of power, excitement and control he got from thoughts of killing a parent.

The jury heard the findings of forensic clinical psychologist Dr Philip Pollock, who said Hackett was suffering from a recognised mental condition. He had found while Hackett knew his plans to kill either of his parents were both highly illegal and morally wrong, he was driven to commit the killing as a solution to his unhappiness and teenage problems.

The jury heard the defence argue that Hackett was a mentally disturbed deluded teenager on the possible verge of schizophrenia when he killed the father he professed to have loved.

The prosecution had argued that while “Sean Hackett had a good life and a good family ... he was a dangerous man, because the smiling pleasant helpful nice guy underneath was a bad wicked planning manipulative killer and that is what he remains”.

When his trial had opened last week the jury heard that Hackett, armed with a Czech hunting rifle he had borrowed from a friend, lay in wait for his father, a former chairman of St Macartan's GAA club, to return home from a meeting.

Reloaded the rifle
As he got out of his car his youngest son shot him in the back of the head. He screamed "no", but as he fell to the ground his son had already reloaded the rifle and fired again. Hackett went and felt his father's hand, which was cold, so he said a prayer over him.

The court heard that when first questioned he told police “something was wrong at the house”, possibly a burglary, but later admitted “I did it ...I shot him”.

Later in a prepared statement, he reported: “I was involved in an incident with reference to the death of my daddy whom I love very much ...I have been suffering from depression and was seeking medical attention at the time. That’s all I have to say at this time.”

During the trial the jury also heard a number of conflicting descriptions about the teenager, not least from his mother.

Although her son had tried to strangle her 10 weeks earlier with an electrical flex, mother and son had lay together on a bed in a neighbour’s home after the shooting.

He had asked to speak to her privately, and as they both cried they “hugged and cuddled each other”.