PORTADOWN KILLER WITH PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA GETS MINIMUM 10 YEARS IN PRISON
In 2017, Thomas Scott McEntee, a man diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, carried out a double stabbing that resulted in the deaths of an elderly couple, Michael and Marjorie Cawdery, both aged 83, at their residence in Portadown.An inquest found that McEntee sought medical help twice in the days leading up to the attack, including a visit to Daisy Hill Hospital on 24 May 2017, just two days before the murders.
Although he was experiencing paranoia and other mental health issues, he was not considered to be in immediate danger and was discharged after a brief evaluation.
McEntee had requested medication and mental health intervention, but a full medical history was not available at that time, which led to less thorough clinical judgments by healthcare staff.
The inquest also revealed that he had a known history in Londonderry and had previously experienced mental health deterioration and self-harm.
On the day of the offense, he was affected by untreated mental illness, which played a role in his violent actions.
He received a sentence of at least 10 years for the murders.
The court highlighted deficiencies in the mental health assessment and clinical decision-making, suggesting these issues may have contributed to his discharge.
