Trial continues of man accused of arson attack on TD's office
A 41-year-old man who threw a homemade petrol bomb through the window of former Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin's constituency office in Ballina, causing more than €23,000 damage, was “floridly (severely) psychotic” at the time, a court was told today (Tuesday).
Dr. Frank Kelly, a consultant psychiarist at the Central Mental Hospital, Dublin, told Judge Rory MacCabe and a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar, he believed John Clarke, Greenhills Estate, Ballina, was suffering from a drug induced psychosis on January 27, 2015, when he staged the arson attack on the premises Ms. Mulherin, who is now a Senator, leases at Casement Street, Ballina,.
Dr. Kelly outlined that Clarke had been to a number of parties in the period prior to the incident where he consumed a significant amount of drugs including amphetamines, cocaine, methadone, valium and alcohol.
Significant damage to I.T. equipment as well as fire damage to lights, fittings, curtains and blinds was caused in the incident.
Clarke is pleading not guilty to a single count of arson.
The trial heard today from Detective Garda Pat Ruane that the accused, who was arrested following the incident under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act, told gardai afterwards he believe he was being followed, that his tobacco and drinking water was being poisoned and that the walls of his house had been painted with drugs.
The accused told gardai he had no animosity towards Ms. Mulherin and had made sure the building was empty beforehand.
The court heard the accused purchased 87 cents worth of petrol from a filling station in Ballina in a bottle after telling foreeourt staff: “Don't worry, I am a responsible person.”
He then broke a window in the politican's window, inserted a rag, and lit the device before flinging the device through the window.
Under cross examination by barrister Mr. Diarmuid Connolly, Detective Garda Ruane said the accused was agitated and distressed when interviewed and some of the things he was saying did not make sense.
At the outset of the case, Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the State, told the jury they could return one of three verdicts – guilty, not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity.
The trial is continuing.