Man found guilty of murdering his 75-year-old mother

A 55-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering his mother in County Kerry.

Miriam Burns, who was 75, was found dead at her home in the Ardshanavooly housing estate in Killarney on 15 August 2022.

Her son, Billy Burns, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder.

However, after deliberating for more than six hours since last Friday, a jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty of murder by unanimous verdict. He will be sentenced on Friday.

Attempt to destroy evidence

Ms Burns died from asphyxia due to manual strangulation along with blunt force trauma to her head.

The trial was told Burns was living rough in Killarney at the time of his mother’s murder.

He had returned home to visit her on 12 August 2022 when a row took place.

Neighbours saw him leave the house and shout obscenities as he left.

A prosecutor said Burns returned to the house later and stayed the night.

Miriam Burns was last seen alive through a window of her house some time between 20:00 and 22:30 local time.

She had stopped responding to calls or texts later that night and it is believed she was killed some time after 22:00.

Burns was seen leaving the following morning.

He returned later that night and left with a rucksack containing items from the house which he later tried to dispose of in an attempt to destroy evidence, the court was told.

When the family became concerned, they asked neighbours to check on the 75-year-old.

She was found dead in her living room on 15 August.

Burns was arrested the following day and was re-arrested in February 2023 as a result of further investigations.

Multiple blows

Burns’s treating psychiatrist Dr Eugene Morgan, who was called by the defence, told the trial that the accused met the criteria for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

However, Dr Stephen Monks, a consultant psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital, said that despite Burns’s mental illness, he understood the nature and quality of his actions when killing his mother.

State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster gave evidence that Ms Burns had injuries to her face, neck, back and legs that were consistent with multiple blows, manual strangulation and possible suffocation.

In closing arguments, prosecuting Counsel Sean Guerin said Burns’s history of aggressive and abusive behaviour towards his mother was not explained by psychiatric illness.

He said the real cause was his abuse of drugs and alcohol in the lead-up to the killing and that he was annoyed.

He said further evidence of his level of understanding could be gleaned from his denial to police of any involvement in his mother’s killing and lies he told about his movements on the day.

Following the verdict, Judge Karen O’Connor adjourned sentencing until Friday, when it is expected victim impact statements will be heard.