A Donegal murder trial has heard that a man admitted killing his parents because he believed his mother wanted him to.

Julian Cuddihy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of James and Kathleen Cuddihy at their home at Churchtown in Carndonagh.

His brother, James, found their parents’ bodies at the family home on the morning of October 23rd, 2014.

Their mother, Kathleen, was lying near the door, while James Cuddihy Snr was found further inside the house.

Both had severe head wounds, and gardaí found an axe and a pair of scissors at the scene.

The court heard Julian Cuddihy suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and believed his mother wanted him to kill her.

He told a consultant psychiatrist that he knew what he did was against the law but thought he was facilitating their entry into heaven.

A jury was sworn in this morning to hear his trial and evidence will be called tomorrow.

Jurors are due to hear from the investigating garda and two psychiatrists who believe the 44-year-old fits the criteria for the special verdict.