Nigerian man drags grandmother to her death at Carrigaline Home in County Cork, Ireland

It’s the kind of case that leaves a courtroom heavy with silence.

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, a 39-year-old man admitted to the manslaughter of his 82-year-old grandmother after dragging her down a flight of stairs during what his legal team described as a severe psychiatric episode.

Bryan Nnadi Ogbo had already pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Stella Ejiatu Nnadi.

What makes the case even more heartbreaking, the court heard, is that he had been without a crucial depot anti-psychotic injection for paranoid schizophrenia in the days leading up to her death.

Two days after she died, he received a medical appointment for that very treatment.

The Night Everything Fell Apart

The incident happened at the family home on Garrydhu Drive in Carrigaline, Co Cork, in February 2025. Ogbo had recently moved to Ireland from Nigeria in December 2024 to live with his mother, Ruby, and grandmother Stella.

According to Detective Garda Tom Delaney, tensions escalated inside the house on February 23rd. Ogbo had reportedly been pacing through the night and became increasingly agitated.

A row broke out over internet access. His mother said he had eaten all the food, destroyed parts of the kitchen, and accused her of hiding money from him.

At one point, he followed her with a pair of scissors, threatening to cut wires. He pushed her to the ground and struck her. The situation spiralled from there.

The Attack on His Grandmother

After the altercation with his mother, Ogbo went upstairs. His grandmother was in the bathroom. He forced the door open.

The court heard he dragged Stella Nnadi by the arm, down the stairs, and out of the house. Despite her injuries, she managed to reach a neighbour’s home with her daughter.

Initially, Stella did not appear to need hospital treatment. But her condition deteriorated rapidly. On February 25th, she was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital, where she died later that day.

A postmortem found she suffered blunt force trauma to the head consistent with being forced down the stairs. Her age and underlying leukaemia significantly reduced her ability to survive such an assault.

A Missed Medical Intervention

In one of the most poignant moments of the hearing, defence senior counsel Jane Hyland told the court that Ogbo had received an appointment for his vital depot injection just 48 hours after his grandmother’s death.

The implication was stark. His mental state had deteriorated in the absence of medication. His mother, a social worker, had reportedly been engaging with Irish mental health services, trying to secure the treatment he needed as his condition worsened.

Schizophrenia, particularly paranoid schizophrenia, can involve hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking.

Without consistent treatment — especially long-acting injectable medication — symptoms can return quickly and severely. In some cases, individuals can become deeply disconnected from reality.

Hyland told the court that Ogbo’s mental impairment at the time was so profound he was “unable to refrain” from the act. She went further, suggesting he may have met the legal threshold for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, had he chosen to contest the charge.

A Man Described as Kind and Intelligent

Family members submitted character references painting a very different picture of the accused. His sisters described him as intelligent, protective and loving. One sister, a doctor, recalled noticing changes in him as far back as 2017 when he confided that he was hearing voices.

The diagnosis of schizophrenia in Nigeria, the court heard, carried stigma and strain within the family. His parents’ relationship broke down amid the turmoil. Despite that, relatives insisted he had never previously been violent or in trouble with the law.

He has reportedly been devastated by his grandmother’s death and was unable to attend her funeral. His grief, his counsel said, is deeply complicated by his role in what happened.

Garda Response and Aftermath

Ruby Nnadi called emergency services three times that night, telling operators her son was agitated, armed with scissors and a knife, and threatening to kill her and other family members.

Gardaí arrived quickly. Ogbo was arrested under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for assessment. He was discharged with instructions to attend voluntarily.

The tragedy raises broader questions about mental health services for people who relocate internationally. Continuity of care — especially for conditions requiring regular injections — can be fragile during cross-border moves. Even short gaps in treatment can have serious consequences.

The Court’s Dilemma

Judge Sinead Behan acknowledged the central issue: prison may not be the appropriate setting for someone in need of structured psychiatric treatment.

“The crux is that prison isn’t a suitable environment,” she observed, asking what treatment plans were realistically available.

The defence indicated that the family hopes Ogbo could eventually live with them and receive care at Ravenscourt Day Centre in St Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork. The judge adjourned the case to seek a comprehensive treatment plan, along with updated psychiatric and probation reports.

Ogbo remains in custody pending his next appearance.

What’s Next?

The court will review medical and psychiatric recommendations before determining sentence and placement. Key questions remain:

• Will he be detained in a secure psychiatric facility rather than a traditional prison?

• What safeguards can ensure consistent access to medication?

• How can the system prevent similar breakdowns when patients transition between countries?

The outcome may also prompt discussion about how mental health services coordinate care for newly arrived residents with complex psychiatric histories.

Summary

A man who dragged his 82-year-old grandmother down the stairs leading to her death during a period when he was without a vital injection for his paranoid schizophrenia received a medical appointment for the treatment two days after her passing, a court has heard.

The case of Bryan Nnadi Ogbo is a devastating intersection of untreated mental illness, family strain and system gaps.

Having pleaded guilty to manslaughter, he now awaits a decision that will likely focus as much on psychiatric care as punishment.

At its core, the court must decide how justice and treatment can coexist in the wake of a tragedy that has left an entire family shattered.