In 2007 Patrick O'Dwyer was sentenced to six years in prison for the death of his sister Marguerite O'Dwyer.
On November 24, 2004, 19-year old Patrick killed his 17-year old sister in what was later deemed a "fit of insanity." Their parents had gone on holiday during the weekend of the incident, and the two had thrown a party the night before. According to testimonies from friends and acquaintances, Patrick had seemed "out of it" and "drifting" the day after the party (the day of Marguerite's death). That night he and his sister were watching "The Office" when Patrick began to feel a sense of depression and shame. He took up a hammer with the intention of using it on himself, however thinking his sister would stop him he instead struck her in the head 6 times - causing irreversible damage. The next morning he realized the magnitude of his crime, and after unsuccessfully trying to commit suicide he turned himself into the police.
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O'Dwyer was 21-years old at the time of his sentencing and became the first person in Ireland to be convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. During the trial he was diagnosed with “Depersonalization Disorder," a condition that includes detachment or estrangement from oneself and lack of emotional response. Patrick had originally pleaded not guilty, and his mother even asked the judge not to send her son to jail for the death of her daughter. In a statement she said "he had no control over that night." Although they attempted to keep him free, at the end of the day a jury of 6 women and 6 men decided Patrick's responsibility for Marguerite's death was not extinguished.
In the aftermath of the trial Patrick's mother Claire spoke out about the suffering her family had endured. In one radio interview she said, "We know something awful came over Patrick that night. It wasn’t him. Our hearts are broken for him. We’re worried for him. We want to get the best care possible for him, not only now but for the rest of his life. We’d love if there was a system in place that he could be monitored on an ongoing basis for the rest of his life.” She went on to explain how their family is caught between feeling love for their son Patrick and grief for their daughter Marguerite. They lost two children that night and are still continuing to recover.
In the aftermath of the trial Patrick's mother Claire spoke out about the suffering her family had endured. In one radio interview she said, "We know something awful came over Patrick that night. It wasn’t him. Our hearts are broken for him. We’re worried for him. We want to get the best care possible for him, not only now but for the rest of his life. We’d love if there was a system in place that he could be monitored on an ongoing basis for the rest of his life.” She went on to explain how their family is caught between feeling love for their son Patrick and grief for their daughter Marguerite. They lost two children that night and are still continuing to recover.