The prosecution has closed its case in the trial of a Killarney man accused of murdering his mother.
Billy Burns, formerly of Arlington Lodge, Church Street, Tralee, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother, Miriam Burns, by reason of insanity, on a date between 12th and 15th August 2022.
The 55-year-old’s trial is continuing in it’s seventh day at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury of eight men and four women.
Miriam Burns’ body was discovered at her home in Ardshanavooley, Killarney, on 15th August 2022.
At the Central Criminal Court on the final day of the prosecutions case, the Judge and jury heard a statement from Ms Burns’ sister, Helen O’Leary.
The court heard Ms O’Leary told Ms Burns three weeks before she was killed, that she would have to let her son “go”; and described her sister as "a saint with what Billy put her through for years".
In her statement, Ms O'Leary said the accused had a lot of issues and had been affected by his father leaving when he was very young and was also addicted to drugs.
The court previously heard that 75-year-old Miriam Burns’ death was caused by asphyxia by manual strangulation associated with blunt force trauma to the head.
She had experienced "very extensive trauma" including bruises on her head, face, neck, back and legs.
55-year-old Billy Burns - who is represented by Anthony Sammon SC with barrister Kate O’Connell, instructed by Eimear Griffin of Pádraig O’Connell solicitors - has pleaded not guilty to his mother's murder by reason of insanity.
Two consultant psychiatrists have differed on whether the accused, who was suffering from a manic episode related to bipolar disorder when he killed his mother, qualifies for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The trial continues before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury of eight men and four women.
