A 23-year-old man has been jailed for life for the murder of a 65-year-old man who had taken his mother into his home after learning she was sleeping in her car.
Brian Ibe of no fixed abode but formerly of Moore Park in Newbridge, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Kennedy by reason of insanity.
Peter Kennedy took Brian Ibe's mother, Martha, into his home after learning she was sleeping in her car.
In 2019, he also allowed Ibe to move in but called gardaí when Ibe became aggressive and threatened him around Christmas of that year.
Gardaí asked Ibe to leave the house, and he moved to a homeless shelter in Walkinstown in Dublin.
However on 28 April 2020, Brian Ibe took a taxi from Walkinstown to Mr Kennedy's home, broke into the house by smashing a window and assaulted him.
Mr Kennedy died from his injuries in hospital two weeks later, on 2 May.
Ibe also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to a charge of assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station following his arrest on or about 29 April 2020, but the jury last month found him guilty of that offence as well as murder.
His lawyers had called two psychiatrists who said that Ibe was undergoing a schizophrenic psychosis at the time of the assault and met the criteria for that special verdict.
However, Dr Mary Davoren, whom the prosecution called, disagreed with the schizophrenia diagnosis and found instead that Ibe has a dissocial personality disorder.
She said that he did not meet the criteria for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
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Thoughtful charitable and helpful man
Mr Kennedy’s sister described him today as a thoughtful charitable and helpful man - who was always available and was actively involved in his community in Newbridge through Tidy Towns, the resource centre and other areas.
Ann Marie Kennedy described his murder as a cruel and terrifying end to a kind and gentle man and that his sisters and wider family continue to be shocked and traumatised and distressed by the fear and pain he felt at the end.
She also thanked the hospital staff, ADVIC and gardaí, in particular those who were with Peter that night and administered first aid, held his hand and offered words of comfort and reassurance as he slowly lost consciousness.
Brian Ibe’s defence counsel Conor Devally described the victim as "a model citizen".
Ms Justice Melanie Greally said today that many people who knew Mr Kennedy came forward and gave accounts during the trial of his innate decency, kindness and generosity.
She described Ibe as a troubled young man who had a lot of difficulties in his early life and had succumbed to addiction.
The judge also said it was notable that there had not been any true expression of remorse or regret for his actions or the consequences.
She sentenced him to 12 months for the assault on Garda O’Donnell and the mandatory term of life in prison for the murder.
