Northern Ireland

Co Tyrone man admits killing his mother at their home in Cookstown

Barry Noone admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility

Barry Noone has admitted killing his 77-year-old mother Margaret
Barry Noone has admitted killing his 77-year-old mother Margaret
By John Cassidy

A CO Tyrone man appeared in court on Thursday where he admitted killing his 77-year-old mother in her home over two years ago.

Barry Noone (47), of Daleside Road, London, was arraigned in September 2023 and denied murdering his mother Margaret Noone at her home in Rathkeen Avenue, Cookstown.

However, at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday defence counsel Martin O’Rouke KC told Mr Justice O’Hara that he had an application to have Noone re-arraigned on the single charge he faced.

When the charge of murdering Margaret Noone on June 19, 2022 was put to him by the court clerk, Noone replied from the dock: “Not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.’’

Margaret Noone (77) was found dead in her Cookstown home
Margaret Noone

Asked by Mr Justice O’Hara what the Crown’s position was to the plea, prosecution counsel John Orr KC said: “Having considered both the reports which were obtained in the case by doctors, the officer in the PPS who is responsible for decision making is happy to accept the plea that is being profferred in this case.’’

Mr Justice O’Hara replied: “That makes sense to me because I have seen both psychiatric reports.’’

Mr Orr said that ahead of sentencing he would furnish the court with a number of victim impact statements.

Ordering a pre-sentence report, Mr Justice O’Hara said he would hear the plea on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Noone was remanded back into custody to await sentencing.

None of the details surrounding the killing were outlined in court but at a previous hearing, a judge was told Noone was arrested at the scene of the killing after friends alerted police to concerns for his and his mother’s welfare on June 19, 2022.

On arrival at the house, police found the blinds closed and on entering the unlocked front door observed a notepad on a table bearing the message, “Please don’t go in. Call the police. I’m so sorry. Barry.”

Officers found Ms Noone dead in her bedroom while her son was in another room, having taken an overdose.

A letter penned by Noone, explained he had returned home to care for his mother, but he couldn’t go on any longer and didn’t want her struggling alone.

While in police custody, he gave generally ‘no comment’ replies to questions, but did say: “I accept my actions leading to my mother’s death.”