Bipolar medication blamed for ramming of Donegal pub and dole office

A man who caused €50,000 worth of damage when he rammed his vehicle into a pub and a dole office has blamed tablets for the incidents.

Joseph McGonagle (41), Muff, Co Donegal, said he was was suffering from depression before the incident on December 27th, 2013. He had been taking bipolar medication and anti-depressants when he crashed into a pub at Sappagh, Muff, then the social welfare offices in Buncrana. Two weeks earlier, a doctor had prescribed him a steroid medication for a skin condition.

Charlotte Simpson for the defence said there was a “very strong possibility” of a involuntary intoxication defence and applied for legal aid for senior counsel. Judge John O’Hagan granted the application at Letterkenny Court.