Ireland Trial of Patrick McDonagh over Clonsilla machete killing
Patrick McDonagh, a man, is charged with murdering his next-door neighbour Peter McDonald, a man, who was found in a pool of blood outside his home on Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, in the early hours of July 25th, 2020. Mr McDonald died from machete and stab wounds to the head and neck. After a stand-off lasting several hours, armed gardaí broke into Mr McDonagh's house, used a Taser to subdue him and arrested him. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted, and his trial before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath at the Central Criminal Court was continuing by January 31st, 2024, when a consultant psychiatrist gave evidence that he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and that his responsibility was substantially diminished.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Jan
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Patrick McDonagh is charged with murdering his next-door neighbour, Peter McDonald.
- Where
- Mr McDonald was found in a pool of blood outside his home on Whitechapel Road, where the accused also lived, in Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
- When
- The killing happened in the early hours of July 25th, 2020.
- Cause
- Mr McDonald died from machete and stab wounds to the head and neck.
- Weapon
- Mr McDonald was attacked with a machete.
- Investigation
- After a stand-off lasting several hours, armed gardaí broke into the accused's house, used a Taser to subdue him and arrested him.
- The prosecution expects the main jury issue to be whether the accused's mental health amounted to diminished responsibility.
- Charges
- Mr McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the State has not accepted the manslaughter plea.
- In court
- The trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of nine men and three women, and it was continuing as of January 31st, 2024.
- Other details
- A witness said the accused had bipolar disorder, while Prof Patricia Casey said he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attack.
- A care worker told gardaí that the accused had been off his medication for a couple of months before the attack.
- Prof Casey told the trial that the accused's responsibility was substantially diminished.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPatrick McDonagh is charged with murdering his next-door neighbour Peter McDonald. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMr McDonald was found in a pool of blood outside his home on Whitechapel Road. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe accused lived at Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing took place in the early hours of July 25th, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing happened on July 25th, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMr McDonald died from machete and stab wounds to the head and neck. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponMr McDonald was attacked with a machete. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponMr McDonagh killed Mr McDonald with a machete. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe prosecution expects the main jury issue to be whether the accused's mental health amounted to diminished responsibility. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationArmed gardaí broke into the accused's house and used a Taser to subdue him before arresting him, after a stand-off lasting several hours. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationArmed gardaí broke through the front door after several hours and arrested Mr McDonagh using a Taser gun. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe State has not accepted the accused's plea. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe State has not accepted the manslaughter plea. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is continuing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused told a witness he suffered from bipolar disorder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA care worker told gardaí that the accused had been off his medication for a couple of months. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty of manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
- otherProf Casey said the accused was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attack. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 31 Jan2024Murder accused who killed neighbour with machete ‘not feigning’ when he said he was Moses, court hears
Court report on the ongoing trial, including psychiatric evidence from Prof Patricia Casey that the accused was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the killing and that his responsibility was substantially diminished.
accused, Patrick McDonagh, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick McDonaghvictim, Peter McDonald, 73, male, irish (judged from name)Peter McDonald - 29 Jan2024Man who stabbed neighbour with machete had not been taking medication
Court report on the ongoing trial. Gives the plea position, the expected diminished responsibility issue, and evidence from a care worker that the accused had been off his medication and had told gardaí his mind was gone.
victim, Peter McDonald, 73, male, irish (judged from name)Peter McDonaldaccused, Patrick McDonagh, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick McDonagh