A 43 year-old man on trial for the murder of his father approached gardai at the crime scene and told them he killed the elderly man because 'God told him to'.
On the opening day of the trial of Mr Anthony McAuliffe at the Central Criminal Court today prosecution counsel Mr Kenneth Mills told the jury they must decide whether or not the accused was insane when he killed his 71 year-old father.
Mr McAuliffe of Rosevale Court, Brookwood Glen, Artane has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr John Tony McAuliffe at Rosevale Court between 27 October and 30 October 2001.
Mr Mills told the court that the accused has a history of psychiatric disorder and that his "reluctance and indifference to taking his medication is a factor in the case".
He said the accused suffered from the illness since his teenage years, but maintained a good relationship with his father who had separated from his mother. "In the course of the evidence by and large you will hear that father and son got on reasonably well… he wasn't welcome by his mother but was well-received by his father," he said.
The deceased man, who had recently returned from a pilgrimage trip to Medugorje lived alone in a small corporation bedsit at the time of his death. "Although the accused stayed with friends, from time to time he stayed with his father," Mr Mills told the court.
Sgt Charlie McConalogue, who was the first garda to be alerted to the scene told the court that he found the body of an elderly man lying on the ground outside the apartment complex where Mr McAuliffe lived.
While attending the scene a man emerged from nearby doorway and told him "I' m his son, I killed him". When he cautioned the man, he continued, "God told me to do it".
A struggle followed in which the accused violently attempted to resist arrest, but was restrained by gardai and taken to Raheny garda station, the witness said.
Mr Mills told the jury that there will be "ample evidence" to suggest that the accused man is guilty but insane of the crime. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Butler.