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Notes deemed too disturbing not revealed in murder-suicide inquest

Thursday, 20 August 2015 17:57

The inquests into the death of Jonathan O'Driscoll and his twin brothers was held yesterday.

Notes written by a Charleville man who stabbed his twin brothers to death were not revealed at the inquests into their deaths yesterday as they were deemed too disturbing.

Jonathan O'Driscoll took his own life shortly after he fatally stabbed his nine-year-old brothers over 40 times each in a frenzied attack in the North Cork last September and it emerged during three hours of evidence yesterday that he was struggling with mental health issues.

Coroner Dr Michael Kennedy told Jonathan’s parents, Helen and Thomas Sr, who wept for most of the inquest that "The notes you found were not written by the Jonathan you knew. He was suffering from a severe psychotic illness".

Toxicology results revealed that the 21-year-old had not been taking his medication for his mental health issues and in the months leading up to the incident had become increasingly paranoid that those around him were trying to poison him.

It was also revealed that he had turned to religion visiting mass at least twice a week and had admitted to medical professionals that he was consumed with thoughts of suicide.

Speaking to RedFM News outside the court their mother Helen O'Driscoll says she'd hate to see any other parent going through what she's been through and acting on signs of mental health struggle is so important. 

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