A 38-year-old man who stabbed a fellow psychiatric patient more than 100 times has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Paul Cuddihy had a long history of psychiatric illness when he attacked Maria O'Brien at a residential unit at St Otteran's in Waterford City on 5 September 2014.
Ms O'Brien was in shared accommodation with Mr Cuddihy and others at the hospital.
Two consultant psychiatrists told the court that Mr Cuddihy had been diagnosed some years earlier with paranoid schizophrenia. He had a history of violent episodes.
Both said while he would have been aware of what he was doing at the time, he would not have been aware it was wrong and would not have been able to stop himself.
After deliberating for just over half an hour, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Ms O’Brien's family said she was a vulnerable woman who was left in a dangerous situation.
They plan to take legal action against the HSE.
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The case returns to court in two weeks time for formal order relating to Mr Cuddihy's treatment and detention at the Central Mental Hospital.
Speaking outside court Maria O'Brien's brother Joe O’Mahony called on the HSE to review its procedures in relation to the treatment and detention of psychiatric patients who have a history of violence.
He said his sister Maria was a vulnerable person who should not have been in such a dangerous situation.
"Being in care means being cared for and not being put in danger," he said.
Ms O'Brien's son Patrick Halley said his mother was a kind and caring person who would do anything for people.
He said he frequently visited her and she was a bubbly, happy person who loved her children.
Mr Halley has criticised the quality of care his mother received and said he believed a number of factors contributed to her "horrific, brutal and untimely death at the age of just 55".
