At the Central Criminal Court, a psychiatrist testified that Andrei Dobra, a well-educated individual with no prior incidents of violence, criminal misconduct, substance abuse or mental health issues, was responsible for the death of his betrothed, Ioana Mihaela Pacala, during a sudden psychotic attack.
Over the span of six consultation sessions, Consultant Psychiatrist Professor Patricia Casey noted that Dobra was respectful, gentle, courteous and displayed deep remorse and confusion for his deadly action against his beloved. His inability to recollect or comprehend his own behaviour showed his disbelief.
In her research into Dobra’s past, Professor Casey depicted him as an individual who had a normal, stable life, devoid of any contact with the criminal justice or mental health services. His past demonstrated no indicators of violence or unlawful behaviour.
Dobra was an educated man, having completed two university degrees in his native Romania before relocating to Ireland in 2015, with ambitions to elevate his status. He secured positions at Cappagh Hospital as an administrator and in Temple Bar as security personnel – employments which enabled him and Mihaela Pacala to secure a home. Those acquainted with the couple testified to Professor Casey about their strong bond, love compatibility and mutual commitment towards each other. Pacala’s family had no reservations about their bond, noted Professor Casey.
Though they had plans to tie the knot on June 10th, 2023, and had chosen a restaurant, a church and even a band for the occasion, Mr Dobra, a resident of Riverwalk Court at Fairyhouse Road in Ratoath, pleaded insane as he stood accused of ending his partner’s life on November 12th, 2022, at the abode they shared.
According to Prof Casey, appointed by the defence, she had six interactions with Mr Dobra post the crime. He shared with her the heightened levels of stress and anxiety he had experienced prior to the incident, largely due to work pressures and concerns around financing his new home. In the days leading up to the event, he sought assistance from a GP and took a break from his work commitments.
His mental health seemed to deteriorate as he was affected by inconsistent thought processes and momentary delusions, suspecting Ms Pacala’s family were hindrances to their intended wedding. He also had a concerning belief that they would snatch away his home and the property’s worth. He grew paranoid of a supernatural entity in his house and was thinking of bringing a holy man to bless his home. Sleep deprivation and hallucinations of night-time noises troubled him, Prof Casey confirmed.
His delusions went further as he feared Ms Pacala’s intentions to kill him and was wary of the hypertension medication given by his GP. Prior to the tragic event, their friends and family reported an unusual behaviour in Mr Dobra; he appeared terribly ill and sweaty.
In a session where he demonstrated psychotically symptomatic behaviour, he confessed to Prof Casey of feeling like a puppet under the control of a house ‘demon’. Recalling the day of the incident, he described an uncontrollable feeling of turning into a ‘monster’. Prof Casey pointed out that sense of losing control is a commonly observed symptom in psychosis patients.
In her professional judgment, she diagnosed Mr Dobra with ‘schizoaffective psychosis’. During the appalling incident, he firmly believed that he was threatened, and couldn’t identify his actions as morally incorrect. Prof Casey opined that Mr Dobra has met the mental status criteria set by the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 justifying a not guilty verdict on the grounds of insanity.
Speaking on behalf of the prosecution, Consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright informed Mr Carl Hanahoe BL that Mr Dobra was likely undergoing a critical depressive phase with psychotic symptoms at the time of the occurrence. Despite the difficulty in evaluating his mental condition due to his memory loss of the event’s circumstances, Dr Wright stated it’s highly plausible he acted upon an irrational fear for his life. The doctor added that his thought process falsely ratified his actions as ethically acceptable self-defence and he failed to comprehend the gravity of his doings.
Dr Wright stated that Mr Dobra is eligible for a verdict of insanity acquittal. The proceeding will resume on Monday, presided over by Justice Melanie Greally, alongside a mixed-gender jury consisting of six males and six females.