By Tony O’Reilly-
A Northern Ireland Man Acquitted of Attempted Murders on Grounds of Insanity, Receives Indefinite Hospital Order
In a case that highlights the complex intersection of mental health and criminal justice, Ben Gibson (21), has been found not guilty of three counts of attempted murder on the grounds of insanity.
A jury at Craigavon Crown Court returned unanimous verdicts after deliberating for less than half an hour.
The charges stemmed from an incident on April 11 last year when Gibson, residing on Glenfield Road in Lurgan, attacked three men in Lurgan town centre with a 12-inch kitchen knife. He was also charged with possession of a knife with the intent to commit murder.
Following the verdicts, Judge Patrick Lynch emphasized that two consultant psychiatrists had concurred that Gibson, who was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, was insane at the time of the attacks.
Dr. Adrian East, Gibson’s treating psychiatrist, recommended that the judge impose an indefinite hospital order with restrictions, a recommendation that Judge Lynch accepted.
As a result of the court’s decision, Gibson will be held in a secure mental health facility and will not be released until the Department of Justice is convinced that he is no longer a danger to himself or others.
Judge Lynch expressed his hope that Gibson would receive appropriate treatment and could eventually be released in the future.
The court heard that during the attacks, Gibson was suffering from “command auditory hallucinations” that urged him to kill or face harm to his family.
He had consumed a significant quantity of pregabalin tablets and alcohol before the incident. Dr. East explained that Gibson’s condition was unlikely to have improved before the offenses and that paranoid schizophrenia had materially affected his thought processes.
Both psychiatrists agreed that Gibson was insane at the time of the attacks, and the jury heard that, even without intoxication, Gibson would have carried out the knife attacks.
They also detailed the extensive history of Gibson’s mental health problems, which dated back to 2016 but became more severe in 2018.
The attacks occurred in three locations in Lurgan. Gibson’s victims described his demeanor as appearing heavily intoxicated, with dead and vacant eyes and a blank expression on his face.
The case highlights the challenges and complexities of addressing criminal actions committed by individuals suffering from severe mental illness. While the verdict acquits Gibson of attempted murder, it also underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to mental health and the criminal justice system.