A Kildare man accused of murdering his former partner by stabbing her six times in the chest did not show any symptoms of suffering from bipolar disorder, a forensic psychiatrist has told a Central Criminal Court jury.
Under cross-examination by Fergal Kavanagh SC, defending, Dr Stephen Monks, who was requested by the Director of Public Prosecutions to examine and carry out a full psychiatric assessment of Michael McDonald, said he would “strongly disagree” that he suffered from bipolar defective disorder.
This is despite Mr Kavanagh saying that a psychiatrist who had examined McDonald since 1998 would give evidence he suffered from the disorder.
It was day nine of the trial of Mr McDonald (51), Barnhill, Castledermot, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Breda Cummins on May 13th, 2010, at Michael Dooley Terrace, Athy. He has also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to John Lawlor (44), Pearse Terrace, Castledermot.
Mr McDonald has admitted the manslaughter of the mother of one but this plea was not accepted by the DPP.