A decision on the best course of action for a Kilkenny man found not guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend by reason of insanity is due to be made today.
Shane Smyth of McGuinness House, Evans Lane, stabbed Mairead Moran to death at the Market Cross Shopping Centre in Kilkenny in May 2014.
Mairead Moran was dragged out of the Holland & Barrett shop where she worked and stabbed eight times by Shane Smyth.
Security guards, shoppers and workers ran to her side but she lost her fight for life in hospital a short time later.
Mr Smyth was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia over 10 years ago and was convinced she was part of a conspiracy to steal his blood.
During his four-day trial, two psychiatrists concluded he did not have the capacity to form the relevant criminal intent for murder, and the jurors agreed after deliberating for less than an hour.
He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment and a hearing is due to take place this morning as the court tries to figure out what to do with the 29-year-old.
