A Co Sligo man accused of the murder of community activist Terry Madden told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that he was "totally exhausted, confused and frustrated" when he signed notes of interviews with gardai.
Mr Patrick McGrath said he was "in continual pain" from his prostate problem during questioning by detectives about the murder of Mr Madden, but he had agreed to go with detectives voluntarily to show them where a sawn-off shotgun was hidden at an illegal dump. Mr McGrath said he was taken to hospital after he was examined by a doctor while in custody at Manorhamilton Garda station on March 5th last year. He was fitted with a catheter and then discharged.
Cross-examined by prosecuting counsel Mr Peter Charleton SC , Mr McGrath said he had told the member in charge at the Garda station that he was in pain and had also told detectives who were questioning him. He agreed that any time he requested the gardai to get a doctor they did, and he agreed that he had not asked for a doctor on March 6th when he had signed interview notes. On March 7th he had signed other interview notes because he was exhausted and was still in pain.
It was the 11th day of the trial of Mr Michael Herron (31), Belleek, Co Fermanagh, with an ad dress at Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, Pte Michael Doohan (34), Ballinode, Co Sligo, and Mr McGrath (57), Gurteen, Co Sligo, who deny the murder of Mr Madden (52) at Monasteraden on January 28th, 1999.
The trial continues today.