'Our poor dad was lying awake all night before he was attacked at the Mercy'

The killer who punched an 88-year-old hospital patient to death was told by the family of the victim on Friday that he deserves no pity and no leniency and that he extended none of those qualities to their wonderful, gentle father.

Dylan Magee, aged 33, of 30 Churchfield Green, Cork, appeared in court for sentencing after being found not guilty of murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, for killing Matthew Healy  on January 22, 2023, at Room 2, St. Joseph’s Ward, Mercy University Hospital.

The deceased man’s daughter, Claire Healy, spoke for the family and recalled how they repeatedly heard from mourners at his funeral that he was a true gentleman, kind, humble, and unassuming, with a gentle soul and a warm, sincere presence, always smiling and pleasant, with a caring manner that made people feel at ease.

“He treated everyone with respect and deserved the same in return. He always thought of others before himself. I have little doubt that our poor Dad was lying awake all night before he was attacked, absolutely petrified about what was going on in his room at the Mercy Hospital, but too polite to say anything for fear of offending the perpetrator or not wanting to inconvenience the staff,” Ms Healy said.

“Words can't express how traumatising it has been to discover that the attack was carried out by someone who went on a drug binge, suffered delirium from the withdrawal, and then pleaded diminished responsibility,” she added.

Detective Garda Michelle Quinn said the late Mr Healy had been admitted to hospital for general medical care after falling at home. Magee was admitted for psychiatric care as he was experiencing delirium and hallucinations. 

Both men ended up in the same room, together with four other men. During the night, one patient was so concerned about Magee that he asked to be moved from the ward.

Magee was given sedatives and a special care assistant — employed for patients who are elderly, incapacitated, or intoxicated. In the early hours of the morning he went to Mr Healy’s bed and punched him repeatedly in the face, shouting in a delirious state that the victim had eaten his child.

 Brendan Grehan, defending, repeated an apology to the Healy family from Magee. 

He referred to a psychiatrist’s comment that a regime of psychiatric medication over an extended period would have been necessary and that what had been given by the time of the fatal incident could be compared to a cup of water on a fire.

Magee had 25 previous convictions including one for robbery, two for assault causing harm, one for having drugs, and one for stealing a car.

Jane Hyland, prosecuting, said the DPP put the case in the sentencing range of 15-20 years, before taking into consideration diminished responsibility and any other mitigating factors.

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford said there was a lot to consider and will impose sentence on April 17. 

She previously said that one could reasonably conclude  both Magee — who had been admitted for treatment for delirium — and 88‑year‑old Matthew Healy, who was admitted after a fall at home, were let down by the system.