A man who attacked his neighbour with a machete leaving him so badly injured that he had to be identified through dental records has been found guilty of murder.
A jury took a little over five hours to reject Patrick McDonagh's claim that his responsibility for the "brutal" crime was substantially diminished because he was suffering an acute episode of schizophrenia.
During the two-week trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that the symptoms McDonagh detailed to psychiatrists were evidence of "malingering" and that if there was any abnormality in his mental state, it would most likely be accounted for by cannabis use.
McDonagh, who stabbed, slashed and chopped his 73-year-old victim Peter McDonald with a machete and a knife, will be sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath on Wednesday when members of the deceased's family will have an opportunity to address the court.
Patrick McDonagh (52), with an address at Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Peter McDonald (73) at the deceased's home on Whitechapel Road on July 25th, 2020.
The State did not accept his plea.
His trial heard from two psychiatrists who differed on Mr McDonagh's diagnosis. Professor Patricia Casey, who was called by the defence, said that Mr McDonagh had a long psychiatric history and was at the time of the killing suffering from acute symptoms of schizophrenia. She said that his mental disorder substantially reduced his responsibility for the killing.
Dr Mary Davoren, who was called by the prosecution, said that if there was any abnormality in Mr McDonagh's mental state at the time of the alleged offence, it would most likely be accounted for by cannabis use.
