Man Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity in Father's Murder

Henry McGowan will remain at Dublin's Central Mental Hospital for treatment after jury verdict.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A court in Ireland found Henry McGowan of New York not guilty by reason of insanity on Thursday for the death of his father at a luxury hotel in November 2024. The verdict came after just over an hour of jury deliberations, marking an end to a yearslong trans-Atlantic crisis that demonstrated the difficulty in preventing a violent mental health crisis. McGowan will return to Dublin's Central Mental Hospital, where he will be held while he continues to undergo treatment.

Why it matters

The case highlights the challenges families face in trying to get help for loved ones struggling with severe mental illness, even when they recognize the warning signs and take steps to intervene. It also underscores the complexities of the insanity defense in different legal systems, with Ireland's 'special verdict' approach contrasting with the more widely available insanity pleas in the United States.

The details

McGowan was charged with beating and strangling his father, John McGowan, 66, at a luxury hotel in Ireland in November 2024 while in the midst of a psychotic episode. At the time, he believed he was a prophet or superhero and that his father was an impostor. It took intensive treatment with antipsychotic medication for McGowan to eventually realize the gravity of what had occurred.

  • On November 12, 2024, McGowan killed his father at a luxury hotel in Ireland.
  • On February 12, 2026, the jury found McGowan not guilty by reason of insanity.

The players

Henry McGowan

A New York City resident who was charged with the murder of his father in Ireland. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a jury determined he was undergoing serious mental distress at the time of the killing.

John McGowan

The 66-year-old father of Henry McGowan, who was killed by his son at a luxury hotel in Ireland in November 2024.

Judge Paul McDermott

The judge who presided over the trial and expressed condolences to the McGowan family, commending them for their efforts to care for Henry despite the tragic outcome.

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What they’re saying

“We see a pattern of a family's concern, of a father's concern.”

— Defense Lawyer

“All the stars had aligned. It was ordained.”

— Henry McGowan

“It is an awful case. It's a shocking case.”

— Judge Paul McDermott

“It's a tragedy that John McGowan, who came on a mission of mercy to help his son, ended up dying.”

— Prosecutor

“Will you make me one promise that you will not run away tonight?”

— John McGowan

What’s next

Next week, the judge could order that Henry McGowan remain at Dublin's Central Mental Hospital for continued treatment.

The takeaway

This case underscores the immense challenges families face in trying to get help for loved ones experiencing severe mental health crises, even when they recognize the warning signs and take steps to intervene. It also highlights the complexities of the insanity defense across different legal systems.