A Nigerian man based in Ireland, Brian Ogbo, has been sentenced to prison following the death of his elderly grandmother during a severe mental health episode.
The 39-year-old was handed a three-and-a-half-year jail term by a court in Cork after admitting to the manslaughter of his 82-year-old grandmother, Stella Nnadi. The incident occurred at their family residence in Carrigaline, County Cork, in February 2025.
Court proceedings revealed that Ogbo had recently moved from Nigeria to Ireland to live with his mother and grandmother. He had previously been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and was undergoing treatment, but reportedly missed scheduled medication doses after relocating.
According to evidence presented in court, his mother had tried to secure proper medical care for him but faced difficulties navigating the healthcare system. The judge, Sinead Behan, noted that he was clearly experiencing a serious psychotic episode at the time of the incident.
Witness testimony indicated that his behaviour became increasingly erratic before the tragedy, including agitation and destruction of household items. During the disturbance, his mother fled the home to seek help from neighbours.
The elderly woman initially escaped to safety but later developed complications. Medical examinations revealed internal head injuries, and she passed away two days after the incident while receiving treatment in hospital.
A postmortem confirmed that the cause of death was related to trauma sustained during the altercation.
During sentencing, the defence described the case as deeply tragic for the entire family, emphasizing that Ogbo had shared a close bond with his grandmother and was mentally unwell at the time.
The court also criticised lapses in the mental health support system, suggesting that the situation might have been avoided with timely medical intervention. It was noted that an appointment for his treatment arrived shortly after the incident.
Although initially sentenced to five years, part of the term was suspended, resulting in a reduced custodial period. The sentence was backdated to when he was first taken into custody in February 2025.
The court further directed that he must continue receiving psychiatric care and remain under supervision after his release.
