Man accused of murdering 88-year-old patient at Cork hospital put on trial

The 33-year-old man charged with murdering an 88-year-old patient at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork in January 2023 was put on trial by judge and jury today where he pleaded “not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.” 

The jury was told that the accused was suffering hallucinations on the night he shared a room with the deceased, and believed in his delirium that the innocent victim had kidnapped and cannibalised children.

The accused man – Dylan Magee – appeared before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury of eight men and four women at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, and was arraigned on the single charge of murder.

Jane Hyland prosecution senior counsel said: “This is a case which is very, very upsetting. It is very upsetting to listen to the evidence in this case. I want you to try and be as dispassionate as possible. That will be difficult.” 

Dylan Magee of 30 Churchfield Green, Cork, is charged that on January 22, 2023, at Room 2, St Joseph’s Ward, Mercy University Hospital, he did murder Matthew Healy, contrary to Common Law.

Matthew Healy was an 88-year-old retired farmer and widower from Berrings, County Cork, who was admitted as a patient after falling from his bed at home. 

Concern

The accused was admitted days later because of the concern of family members that he was hallucinating. In the hospital he was assigned a special care assistant from the time of his admission three days before the fatal incident.

Ms Hyland said the anticipated facts in the case were that on that night the accused was talking to himself and laughing and also approaching different patients in the early hours.

“At 5.15am on January 22, 2023, the nurse left the room to call a doctor. The care assistant who had been assigned to him was in the room and had his back to Dylan Magee. The care assistant heard footsteps and thumps. The care assistant saw Dylan Magee punch Mr Healy a number of times in the head with his right hand.

“The care assistant shouted for help. They managed to pull Mr Magee away from Mr Healy. They saw him punch Mr Healy again at that stage. The care assistant left the room to get more help. The nurse broke his finger trying to hold Dylan Magee back. He did not manage to fully hold him back at that time,” Ms Hyland said.

The prosecution senior counsel said there were comments heard at the time and by gardaí dealing with him afterwards, where Dylan Magee spoke of the victim cannibalising children, of men with balaclavas, and of fire.

Ms Hyland said Mr Healy died from cardiac arrest as result of injuries suffered during the hospital room assault, according to pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster.

Ms Hyland told the jury they would hear from psychiatrists who examined Dylan Magee on behalf of the prosecution and the defence. 

She said the defence psychiatrist would say he was at the time delusional, did not know he was wrong and could not refrain from acting the way he did. And that the prosecution psychiatrist substantially agreed but took the view that Dylan Magee knew it was an assault that was potentially fatal and at some level knew it was wrong but he was unable to refrain from committing the act.

Ms Hyland said it was open to the jury to take a view on the psychiatric evidence that he was not guilty by reason of insanity or that it was manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The murder trial continues.