Troubled Psychiatrist Drowned 'Anorexic' Daughter

A depressed psychiatrist who drowned her teenage daughter in the bath to, she believed, save her from 'a hopeless life of anorexia' has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

Lynn Gibbs, 47, who killed her daughter Ciara, 16, at their home in Killure, Gowran in Co Killkenny between November 25 and 26, 2006, will remain in treatment at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum until an order is made by the state for her release.

The jury of nine women and three men took 21 minutes to return the verdict in the Central Criminal Court at Dublin.

Based on evidence from consultant psychiatrists given during the trial Mr Justice Paul Carney warned them before they retired, if they returned any other verdict than not guilty by insanity, they would effectively be saying “all in psychiatry was bunkum”.

Consultant psychiatrists for the defence and prosecution agreed Mrs Gibbs actually thought by killing Ciara she was helping her daughter escape a hopeless life ruled by anorexia and said she was absolutely powerless to stop herself carrying out the act.

Mrs Gibbs who had been blank faced and unemotional during the trial was smiling as her tearful husband Gerard also hugged her and shook hands with Gardaí and lawyers.

During the trial the Doctor’s harrowing family history was laid bare including her mother Iris Hutchinson’s depression and suicide at the age of 49 by drinking weed killer, Mrs Gibbs own suicide attempt by overdose at the age of 20 and her own obsession with her weight three years before that.

Gerald Gibbs returned related how he returned home with the couple’s son Gearoid from staying at his mother’s house in Tipperary to find his daughter drowned.

His wife was lying slumped near the drawers in the bedroom semi-conscious.

Friend Dr Marese Cheasty was the last person to see them alive on the night of the 25th.

She told the court her friend had become absolutely depressed and pre-occupied with Ciara.

Mrs Gibbs had been prescribed three different anti-depressants since September that year but none of them agreed with her and she stopped taking all of them after a week or so, she told the court.

A report read to the court from consultant psychiatrist Dr James Lucey from St Vincent’s Hospital, where Mrs Gibbs was transferred to after St Lukes’s said Mrs Gibbs suffered from a major mental health disorder.

“I have no doubt that her actions were carried out in the context of a major psychotic disorder,” his report said.

Mr Brendan Grehan SC for the DPP declined to make a closing speech in the case Mr Patrick Gageby SC for Mrs Gibbs telling the jury the case had been put before them as the law required, but also to show Mrs Gibbs was not being done any favours because of the origin of her profession.

After the verdict Professor Harry Kennedy, Director of the Central Mental Hospital who has been treating her for the past 10 months told the court the best place for Mrs Gibbs was in a secure designated facility where she will receive ongoing treatment.

Mr Justice Carney made the order for her to remain in the Central Mental Hospital under Professor Kennedy’s care until a further order was made under section 13 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006.

(BMcC)