Man found guilty of double murder of Blaine brothers in Castlebar
A MAN has been found guilty of the double murder of two elderly brothers in Castlebar just over four years ago.
Alan Cawley (30) of Four Winds, Corrimbla, Ballina, had admitted killing Thomas Blaine (69) and John (Jack) Blaine (76) but pleaded not guilty to murdering them on July 10, 2013, at their New Antrim Street home.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court began deliberations yesterday (Monday) before reaching a verdict earlier today.
Before beginning deliberations, Mr. Justice Paul Coffey explained to the jury that whether the accused had caused the men's deaths was not an issue that would trouble them.Â
The defence, he added, had raised a partial defence, known as diminished responsibility, and that was the nub of the case. “You cannot proceed to convict unless and until you have considered that defence,†he outlined.
Mr. Justice Coffey further explained that there had to be evidence that, at the time of the killing, Cawley was suffering from a mental disorder that substantially diminished his responsibility for his acts.
The four women and eight men had spent just over half an hour considering their verdict yesterday before being sent home for the evening. They resumed deliberations this morning and reached a verdict in less than two hours.
More to follow.