A PSYCHIATRIST has told the trial of Mr Brendan O'Donnell that he had regarded him as a danger to society in 1988 and had favoured his being kept in a secure setting and treated by adult psychiatric services.
But the defendant would have had to agree and was not keen to move to a small residential community under the care of responsible adults, Dr Jerry O'Neill said.
He believed a good environment and not medication would have been the answer to Mr O'Donnell's problems, he said.
Dr O'Neill, a consultant psychiatrist, said he examined Mr O'Donnell several times between 1988 and 1990 and in June 1988 judged him psychotic and a certain danger to society.
He had the impression at that time Mr O'Donnell was suffering delusions about involvement with the IRA and believed the IRA was trying to rescue him from Trinity House, a Dublin detention centre for young offenders, called him Rambo and sent him coded messages through the radio.
The doctor was giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court on the 36th day of the trial of Mr O'Donnell (21), a native of Co Clare facing 12 charges relating to events in the west of Ireland in 1994.
He has denied the murder of Imelda Riney (29), and her son Liam (3), between April 28th and May 8th 1994. He also denied the murder of Father Joseph Walsh (37), the former curate of Eyrecourt, Co Galway, between May 3rd and 8th 1994 and the false imprisonment of Father Walsh.
Mr O'Donnell has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping Ms Fiona Sampson and Mr Edward Cleary on May 7th 1994 and to hijacking vehicles driven by both persons. He has also denied having a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life and for unlawful purposes on the same date.
In court yesterday Dr O'Neill said he felt Mr O'Donnell was very disturbed and would need help. On June 9th, 1988, he formed the opinion the defendant had a psychosis. He decided, and Dr Charles Smith, director of the Central Mental Hospital concurred, that he should put him on appropriate medication.
He saw Mr O'Donnell again in August 1989. There was no evidence of his being psychotic but he appeared vulnerable. He displayed poor judgment and a diminished sense of conscience and of right and wrong.
In January 1990 he again interviewed Mr O'Donnell and believed he was very truthful on that occasion and spoke "from the heart". He was subdued and depressed about his mother's death. He felt bitter and angry and tended to blame his father.
Mr O'Donnell had admitted some of the stories he had told the doctor were contrived. He had a fatalistic view of the future. He had no friends, no ambition to work and had low self esteem. The only person he spoke of wanting to take with him to a deserted island was his mother. He seemed "a sad, lonely boy", Dr O'Neill said.
Under cross examination by Mr Peter Charleton SC, prosecuting, Dr O'Neill said he believed schizophrenics could tell self interested lies. Schizophrenia did not absorb the entire personality, he said.
Mr Charleton said it was the State case that Mr O'Donnell did not suffer from schizophrenia but from a behavioural personality disorder.
The witness said there were some indications from Mr O'Donnell of schizophrenia and some indications of a personality disorder. He felt there was an indication of a dual process but he did not feel competent to make a firm diagnosis.
Dr O'Neill said the defendant appeared to have broken downs into a psychosis when placed in a penal setting. He was concerned this could happen again.
He said Mr O'Donnell could have developed a behavioural personality disorder but on top of that he appeared to have the potential to suffer from psychotic episodes under extreme stress.
Dr Brian McCaffrey, a consultant psychiatrist with the Eastern Health Board, said he had met Mr O'Donnell in Mountjoy, Prison in August 1994.
He said the meeting was unusual and very tense. Mr O'Donnell was handcuffed and was "explosive looking". He was accompanied by a prison officer.
Dr McCaffrey said he felt it was a dangerous situation. Mr O'Donnell had the look of somebody out of control and was "very bizarre".
Dr McCaffrey said he had no doubt Mr O'Donnell was "quite psychotic" and was suffering from some type of serious mental illness.
The trial continues today.