Man accused of murdering his mother in Dundalk on trial later this week

A man who admits the manslaughter of his mother in Dundalk three years ago, but denies her murder, will stand trial later this week.

A jury was empanelled on Tuesday for the Central Criminal Court trial of 29-year-old Luke Donnelly, of no fixed abode, who denies murdering Catherine Henry in May 2023.

The charge against Mr Donnelly is of murdering Ms Henry on a date unknown between 23 and 24 May, 2023 at an apartment on Bridge Street in Dundalk, Co Louth.

“How do you plead?” asked the court registrar.

“Not guilty; guilty of manslaughter,” Mr Donnelly answered.

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Mr Justice Seán Gillane had told the jury pool that Ms Henry “is the mother of the accused” before reading a witness list.

The judge swore in a panel of five women and seven men to hear the trial, telling the members that they were to go to a jury room to select a foreperson and return on Thursday, when the two-week trial is to commence.