A man who stabbed a couple because he said voices in his head told him to hurt people has been sent to the Central Mental Hospital after a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity.
36-year-old Billy Walsh from Thompson Lane, Dungarvan had attacked Sam Burfield and Claire Curran in the early hours of Monday, 31 July last year as they were walking home.
Walsh stabbed both victims in the stomach.
At Waterford Circuit Criminal Court, Walsh was found guilty of assaulting Mr Burfield, causing him harm and of assaulting Ms Curran, causing her serious harm.
He had pleaded not guilty to all charges by reason of insanity at the court.
Two psychiatrists had told the court that Walsh would not have been able to refrain from obeying the voices at the time of the attacks.
Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Gautam Gulati told the court the accused man heard male and female voices "in the second and third person" talking about him and to him.
Forensic psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum Dr Ronan Mullaney agreed with this.
