Traveller who killed his brother suffers from post traumatic stress, court hears

A Co Clare traveller who killed his brother during an ``alcohol fuelled’’ fight is now suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, a court heard today.

Patrick Mc Donagh, a 28-year-old father of four, of Bridge Court, Roslevan, Ennis was convicted by a jury last month of the manslaughter of his brother Charlie (aged 30) on January 28, 2007. He was found not guilty by the jury of his brother’s murder.

During a five day trial the court heard that stonemason Charlie Mc Donagh had been drinking with his brother in law Anthony Ward for most of the evening and had later been joined by Patrick Mc Donagh. They continued drinking and when the drink ran out got a taxi to a local off licence where Patrick bought two bottles of vodka.

A row developed between Patrick and Charlie which developed into a full blown fist fight. The two men later fought in the street with a knife and an axe and after the weapons were thrown away, Patrick picked up the knife lying on the ground and stabbed his brother.

Charlie Mc Donagh received 12 stab wounds, the fatal wound being to the front of the trunk just below the ribcage.

Sergeant Gearoid O’ Sullivan, Ennis, told the court today that Patrick Mc Donagh had been injured himself during the fight and had required hospital treatment.

The Sergeant said that Patrick lives in a caravan at Bishop’s Palace in Ennis and has three previous convictions.

He agreed with defence counsel Mr Brendan Nix SC that there was a large amount of intoxicating liquor involved in `` the alcohol fuelled fight.’’

Dr John O’ Mahony, a psychiatrist at Ennis County Hospital, said that he has been treating Patrick Mc Donagh who is suffering from a major depressive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident.

He said that he has been ostracised by his family because of the killing and this has interrupted the grieving process. He held his older brother Charlie in high esteem, the doctor said.

The doctor said that Mc Donagh is on a high dose regime and he said that he has grave concerns that he will get treatment in prison because ``there is no forensic psychiatric service outside The Pale.’’

``It is generally accepted that people in the travelling community find prison more difficult than people in the settled community,’’ he added.

In her victim impact statement, a tearful Mrs Brigid Mary Mc Donagh said that her husband Charlie was a hard working man, a very good father and husband and was an honest man.

``He was my best friend and he was my soul mate,’’ she added. She said that his last words to her were:``See you honey on Sunday when you come back home.’’

Mrs Mc Donagh said she was tramatised by his death.``The love of my life is dead.’’

``I am left without a husband.My children are left without a daddy. The pain in my heart will never go away,’’ she said.

``When he stabbed my husband to death he stabbed my heart to death.,’’ she said.

Mr Justice Paul Carney said that he would sentence Mc Donagh tomorrow.