A 32-year-old man who tried to kill his mother by repeatedly stabbing her while he was suffering from psychosis has been jailed for ten years.
Gearoid Coughlan, from Ballycoughlan, Inishannon, Co Cork, had earlier pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his mother on 4 June 2021 at her home in Ballycoughlan.
The court was told he did not want to avail of a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity because he did not want to be detained indefinitely in the Central Mental Hospital, preferring instead to serve a sentence in prison.
At the sentence hearing in March his mother, Mary Coughlan, criticised failures in the mental health system, which she said put her in a dangerous situation because of her son's illness.
He had struggled with schizophrenia for many years resulting in 11 admissions to a psychiatric unit over a ten-year period.
His mother was not made aware of the danger he posed in the lead up to the assault, which left her with life-long injuries.
She said a lack of communication about the risk posed by her son's illness left her in an "unexpected, dangerous situation where I endured a horrific assault that almost cost me my life and will continue to impact my life forever. The assault by my son, who I never feared before, resulted in severe injuries including a traumatic brain injury".
Ms Coughlan told the court she was frustrated that people with paranoid schizophrenia were allowed to live in the community without the care they need, in particular to ensure they take medication.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of 12 years with the final two years suspended under strict conditions for six years and said this would allow for Coughlan's safe return to society.
The judge said it was likely he would remain in the Central Mental Hospital for some time until deemed well enough to be transferred to prison where his treatment will continue.
The judge said the court had no power to order someone's detention in hospital. He said the court could take into account the potential future risk of violence, but could not impose a form of preventative detention.
However he noted Coughlan had in the past repeatedly refused to take the recommended medication and had consumed alcohol and other drugs which had led to violent episodes, including the assault on his mother. He continues to have delusional beliefs and does not accept the diagnosis of his condition.
The suspended portion of the sentence would allow for his post-release behaviour to be monitored, the judge said. The conditions included adhering to any treatment recommended by mental health services, which the judge said "must play a pivotal role".
The judge praised Ms Coughlan's "extraordinary" victim impact statement which "carried with it the concerns of a victim of crime but also the deep concerns of a mother for her son and a deep and abiding concern that his problems will be addressed in a meaningful way".
The judge said the statement was "full of love and forgiveness and positive thoughts for the future".
The court was told that on 4 June 2021, Ms Coughlan's daughter Joanne became concerned after her mother texted her to say that Gearoid was at her house, appeared to be "quite down" and was saying: "You're not my mother."
Joanne's husband, a GP, immediately went to Ballycoughlan, where he found Ms Coughlan lying face down in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor. He saved her life by stabilising her while waiting for emergency services.
Ms Coughlan had been repeatedly stabbed and suffered a 25cm wound to the neck and multiple wounds to the face. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and continues to undergo speech and language therapy. Although she is at an advanced stage of recovery, she will never make a full recovery, the court was told.
Gearoid Coughlan was found at a bus stop about 4km from his mother's home. After being cautioned, he asked gardaí twice: "Is she dead?"
During interviews he repeatedly denied being at the family home that day.
In a recording made by Coughlan's mother five days before the assault he could be heard calmly saying: "I will kill all of you".
After his arrest and detention, Coughlan was sent to the Central Mental Hospital where he remains.
Several psychiatrists are of the view that he suffers from schizophrenia, does not have insight into his condition and believes that he only suffers from anxiety.
In her victim impact statement, Mary Coughlan said if she could sit with her son in a safe environment, she would "give him a big hug and tell him we all love him. I understand that his illness was the cause of this".
She said her family and her son were "failed by the system", but she still hopes that he can receive care from the best experts to "pave the way for brighter futures for us all".
The court also heard that psychiatrists working with Coughlan have stated that he still lacks insight into his illness and if he stops taking his medication they are concerned that he would develop a psychosis again and be a threat to his family and, in particular, his mother.
Following his mother's statement, Coughlan read from a prepared note in which he said he believes his condition is improving and apologised to his mother.
Speaking outside court, Ms Coughlan said she wanted to acknowledge all the support the family had received since "this tragic event took place".
She said it was very unsettlng that an event needed to happen for her son to get the apporpropriate medical care.
Ms Coughlan said: "Unfortunately, the mental health services in Ireland are inadequate to care for complex mental illness in the community.
"An illness that has robbed my son of so much and caused untold sadness in our family.
"We hope that other families in a similar situation get their required help before it becomes too late."
She also thanked all those in the Central Mental Hospital who continue to care for her son.
