Man with serious mental illness did not have access to meds when he slashed other man, court told
A man who was diagnosed with a serious mental illness did not have access to anti-psychotic medication when he slashed another man’s throat at an addiction treatment centre, the accused’s trial heard on Wednesday. It is accepted by all parties that the accused, Sean Buemer, Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, Co Dublin, slashed Aaron Babbington’s throat with a makeshift knife, which he made by attaching a razor blade to a plastic handle. The two men were participating in a residential alcohol detox programme, at Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment centre, Bruree, Co Limerick, when the attack occurred at the centre during the early hours of December 13, 2019. Mr Beumer, (29), has pleaded “not guilty by reason of insanity” before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to charges of assault causing harm and to producing a makeshift knife during the course of the assault on Mr Babbington, (30s), of Churchfield, Co Cork. The court heard Mr Beumer had an established long-term diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, however a GP who assessed him for his suitability to attend the detox programme at Cuan Mhuire, was not aware of this diagnosis. Cuan Mhuire was also not aware of Mr Beumer’s diagnosed mental health condition, nor that he had been prescribed anti-psychotic mediation. Cuan Mhuire’s detox policy at the time required that all participants non-medical medications be discontinued for the duration of the programme. Mr Beumer had, in the days prior to the attack, requested his medication but he did not receive it, the trial heard. Mr Buemer told gardai after his arrest that 15 days into his residency at Cuan Mhuire, and with psychotic “thoughts building” in his mind he “exploded” and slashed Mr Babbington’s throat with the razor, the court heard. Mr Babbington received stitches for three slash wounds to his neck including one of seven-inches in length, and stitches to one of his thumbs where he had been slashed with the “shiv”. Mr Beumer told gardai, after his arrest, that in the days leading up to him attacking Mr Babbington, he heard “voices” and experienced hallucinations which he said “brainwashed” him into erroneously believing he and his family would be murdered if he didn't act. There was no evidence that Mr Babbington had done anything to provoke Mr Beumer.
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Dr Ivan Murray, a forensic consultant psychiatrist and a key witness for the defence, provided uncontested evidence, that in his “professional opinion”, there was a “definite link” between Mr Beumer not receiving his anti-psychotic medication and the assault on Mr Babbington. Dr Murray said in his opinion, Mr Beumer’s diagnosed condition was “significantly exacerbated” when he did not receive his mediation in the days prior to the attack. Dr Murray said he it was his view that Mr Beumer would not have been able to shake off the “false thoughts” “delusions” and “hallucinations” that he reported experiencing while he was off his meds. Dr Murray, who carried out an independent medical assessment of Mr Beumer in May 2025, said he believed that being off his mediation caused Mr Beumer to suffer a “psychotic relapse” which led to him “suffering from a mental disorder at the time that rendered him unable to refrain form his actions and which overwhelmed his decision-making”. Dr Murray said, in his opinion, that Mr Beumer “meets the criteria” of being not guilty of the offences by reason of insanity. The psychiatrist agreed with prosecuting barrister, Lily Buckley, that Mr Beumer’s schizophrenia should have been flagged with Cuan Mhuire in advance of him attending the centre to participate in its alcohol detox programme. Dr Murray said, in his opinion, Mr Beumer requires a “multi-disciplinary” medical approach to treating his schizophrenia, including a MRI scan on his brain in order to rule in or rule out the possibility, although a “rare” one, that Mr Beumer may be suffering from a “lesion” on his brain that could cause similar mental health difficulties. In her closing speech to the jury, Ms Buckley said there were three verdicts open to the jury, guilty, not guilty, or not guilty by reason of insanity. In his closing speech, Mr Beumer’s barrister, senior counsel Lorcan Connolly, said Mr Beumer was responsible for the attack on Mr Babington, but he argued Mr Beumer was not of sound mind at the time and therefore he was not guilty of the offences by reason of insanity. “The fact is Mr Beumer needed medication, he didn't get it, which resulted in him cracking and doing what he did,” Mr Connolly said. “Dr Murray’s professional opinion was that Sean Beumer was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia that rendered him unable to control his actions. The only logical verdict is based on the evidence that Mr Beumer is not guilty by reason of insanity,” Mr Connolly told the jury. The jury of seven men and five women is expected to retire Thursday to consider its verdicts. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
