An American man who killed his father at a five-star hotel, during a psychotic episode, will continue to receive treatment in the Central Mental Hospital, the Central Criminal Court has been told.
Earlier this month, 31-year-old Henry McGowan, from Brooklyn in New York, was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of his 66-year-old father John at Ballyfin Demesne, in Co Laois, in November 2024.
The court heard two consultant psychiatrists for the defence and the prosecution agreed he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time.
Mr McGowan had begun to suffer a relapse of his schizoaffective disorder while on a trip to Europe. His family had become deeply concerned about him and his father flew over from the US to bring him home.
They planned to stay in the hotel for a night until Henry received replacement travel documents, having disposed of his belongings at Dublin Airport. John McGowan met his son at the Mater Hospital on the morning of 12 November where he had been given a prescription for medication.
Family members in the US were in touch with a doctor and with gardaí in Ireland in an effort to help. But that evening, after being seen walking naked around the pool area at Ballyfin Demesne, Henry McGowan killed his father in a changing cubicle.
A psychiatrist told the court Henry McGowan was in a profoundly psychotic mental state, believing his father had been replaced by an evil imposter and that he had been ordained by God to kill his father.
This afternoon, consultant forensic psychiatrist, Dr Mark Joynt, told the court that he was currently treating Henry McGowan at the Central Mental Hospital.
The court heard Mr McGowan had been making progress and that he fully accepted his diagnosis of mental illness and the need for treatment. The court was told Mr McGowan had said he was absolutely committed to remaining on medication to prevent any relapse.
Dr Joynt said Mr McGowan, presented with severe relapsing mental illness, was almost certain to relapse in the absence of appropriate care and treatment. He said because of the severity of his illness, he should continue to be detained at the Central Mental Hospital, the only place which could provide the specialist treatment and intervention he required.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott directed Mr McGowan should be committed to the Central Mental Hospital until a further order is made under the relevant legislation.
Mr McGowan's condition will be reviewed at intervals not longer than six months and will only be released if the Review Board deems it appropriate having heard medical evidence.
Mr McGowan’s mother attended the hearing by videolink from the US.
