Courts / Dublin / Report

Machete murder accused 'off medication' in months before killing, trial hears

Date
2024-01-29

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick McDonagh (52) is on trial for the murder of his neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on 25 July 2020. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. He is charged with killing McDonald with a machete, resulting in head and neck wounds. The court heard that McDonagh, who has bipolar disorder, had not taken his medication for months before the attack, claiming it left him "defenceless against satan" and caused heart palpitations. Care worker Aaron Murtagh Casey testified that McDonagh was disorientated during a call with Gardaí, who later used a Taser to subdue him after a stand‑off. The jury is to decide whether McDonagh's mental state constitutes a diminished‑responsibility defence. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of nine men and three women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Machete murder accused 'off medication' in months before killing, trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering his next-door neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on Whitechapel Road on July 25th, 2020; murder but guilty to manslaughter. Procedural stage: trial

When:

July 25th, 2020 Incident
2024-01-29 Publication

Why: The witness agreed he told gardai that Mr McDonagh had been "off his medication" for a couple of months because, he said, it "made him defenceless against satan" and gave him heart palpitations. Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Patrick McDonagh

Accused

Charges: murdering his next-door neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on Whitechapel Road on July 25th, 2020; murder but guilty to manslaughter (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty