Diminished responsibility as a defence in Ireland having regard to the law in England, Scotland and Wales.

Abstract

This thesis is an inquiry into the necessity of a diminished responsibility defence in Irish law. The inquiry examines the controversy surrounding each attempt to reformulate the insanity defence in the Anglo-American world. The thesis looks at the success of the English defence of diminished responsibility in abating the controversy in that jurisdiction. Following an analysis of the need for diminished responsibility in Irish law, the thesis deals with the appropriate form of an Irish diminished responsibility defence