A 55-year-old Kerry man has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his mother, Miriam Burns, at her home in Killarney three years ago. Billy Burns, from Arlington Lodge, Tralee, is charged with murdering his 75-year-old mother, Miriam Burns, on a date between August 12th and 15th, 2022, at an address in Ardshanavooley, Killarney. During the arraignment, Mr. Burns replied, 'Not guilty by reason of insanity' when faced with the murder charge. The trial is expected to last until the end of next week, with the possibility of extending by one or two days. The property in question, where the murder took place, is located in Ardshanavooley, and Ms. Burns was the mother of the accused man. Mr. Burns, a native of County Kerry, has lived in or around Killarney and has worked casually as a waiter in the past. The trial is presided over by Ms. Justice Karen O'Connor, with the Director of Public Prosecutions represented by Sean Guerin SC and Anthony Sammon SC representing Mr. Burns. The jury, consisting of eight men and four women, has been sworn in to hear the case, and the judge has advised potential jurors to avoid living in Killarney or having strong local connections to the area.
