Wexford woman found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity

A Wexford woman has been found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of her partner at their home in 2012.

Caroline Roche (52), from Ballyedmond, Monamolin, Co Wexford, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to murdering Walter Plunkett (84) by reason of insanity.

The three-day trial heard Mr Plunkett had lived at the same address in Wexford with Ms Roche for over 10 years.

In his closing speech Paul Burns SC said the accused had admitted she killed Mr Plunkett. He spoke of the evidence by the State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy, who said the cause of death was hypoxia caused by a heavy weight to the chest making breathing impossible.

Michael Delaney SC, defending, told the jury what a dangerous affliction it was to suffer from the illness Roche had, and how dangerous it could be if not treated appropriately. In this case, “taking the life from an innocent man such as Walter Plunkett”.

The court heard Ms Roche had stopped taking her medication a week before the incident because she had been unwell. She had believed the devil was going to “invade her body and mind”.

“Sadly and tragically for Mr Plunkett, the injection she was supposed to get before she killed him was not received.”

Mr Delaney spoke of Ms Roche’s 30-year history of schizoaffective disorder, multiple instances of hospitalisation and numerous references to the devil and rape.

Mr Delaney concluded with evidence given by consultant psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital Dr Brenda Wright, who said by reason of her illness Ms Roche would not have had the capacity to form intent.

Saying there was no reason to doubt what Dr Wright said, Mr Justice Barry White said this was a case where the appropriate verdict was one of not guilty by insanity. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 24 minutes.