Paul Horgan has been accused of killing his own Mother
A 27-year old man charged with the fatal stabbing of his Mother, Marian Horgan (60), has claimed he only did so in an attempt to "set her free" because of the cruelty of life.
The accused - Paul Horgan - offered evidence today before his Central Criminal Court murder trial in Cork.
He insisted he only intended to set his parents, Marian and Billy Horgan 'free', and then himself.
The grizzly murder took place at the Horgan family home at Murmont Avenue, Montenotte, Cork on November 23rd 2015.
Giving evidence today, Paul Horgan insisted he did not intend to kill anyone:
"I wanted to set her (his mother) free not that I meant to kill her," he told the Court.
"I did not intend to kill her. I intended to set her free because life is so cruel''
However Mr Horgan replied "Yeah" when it was put to him that it was an inescapable fact of the evidence that he had stabbed his mother.
Horgan drank two bottles of wine while watching 'Family Guy' and a Harry Potter film, but told Gardaí he has no recollection of the fatal stabbing almost three years ago.
Mr Horgan's father, Billy, also suffered serious injuries in the alleged incident that morning has refused to press charges against his son.
The young man, in answer to a question referencing his father, expressed his regret.
"Yeah, I am so sorry - I didn't mean it at all.
"I don't know how it happened."
"Horrible - it is hard to listen to everything (in evidence)," he said.
"But I don't remember it, like."
"My own life was cruel too.
"I wanted to set her free. My mother did not deserve cruelty."
Mr Horgan acknowledged that he had the same intention for his father and himself.
"I was going to set him free too."
The trial continues.
