AN IRISHMAN who killed his mother after drinking two bottles of wine said he did not intend to kill her but only wanted to “set her free”.
Paul Horgan, 27, of Murmont Avenue, Montenotte, Cork was handed a mandatory life sentence after being found guilty of murder at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday.
On the morning of November 24, 2015, Horgan stabbed his mother Marian, 60, through the head.
It is believed an altercation developed between the pair after she woke to find he had stayed up all night drinking two bottles of wine.
When Marian’s husband Billy Horgan came down to investigate the noise, he too was attacked.
After being struck on the head, he managed to make it outside, followed by his son who was wielding two knives.
Paul Horgan was eventually disarmed by shocked neighbours before being arrested by gardaí.
Mrs Horgan was pronounced dead at the scene. It was later determined she died from shock and haemorrhage as a result of the stab injury to her head.
'Life is so cruel'
Independent.ie reports that while Horgan claimed he couldn’t remember the confrontation, he still maintained he did not intend to kill his mother.
“I did not intend to kill her,” he said. “I intended to set her free because life is so cruel. My own life was cruel too.”
“I wanted to set her free. My mother did not deserve cruelty.”
He acknowledged that he had the same intention for his father and himself.
“I was going to set him free too.”
The court heard Billy Horgan had refused to press charges against his son.
No victim impact statement was given following the jury’s unanimous guilty verdict after just one hour of deliberation.
