You're listening to the mens rea podcast and this is the story of Brendan O'Donnell. Oh, Today's story takes a slightly different focus in that rather than looking at the court case

associated with the story, we're looking at the workings of another institution in Ireland, the mental health sector.

For the most part, the setting today is in rural west of Ireland

next to the Holy Site of Loch Dirk,

famous for its annual pilgrimage.

And it's in this peaceful place where we see deteriorating mental health combined with a violent

streak, both of which went untreated and resulted in the deaths of three people.

Brendan O'Donnell was born to Michael Pat and Margaret Quinn, who were married on the 31st of

July 1969. They lived in a small village in East Clare close to Loch Derg, near the southern

border of County Galway on the River Shannon. They had four children. Brendan was the

third and was born in March of 1974.

Michael Pat worked for Claire County Council and had an exacting personality.

He was a perfectionist and demanded that things be done his way. He would not stand to have

his children dirty their shoes or clothing. Everything had to be clean, neat and tidy.

There are varying reports as to whether there was physical abuse in the household,

but he seemed to take good physical care of his family. They were always dressed and fed well and got any medical care that they needed.

The O'Donnell's first met with psychiatrist Dr Ledwith in February 1978 for Brendan's severe

behavioral problems, which were apparent from as young as four years old.

Margaret described attacks that Brendan would suffer every time he was reprimanded or physically punished for misbehavior.

She was advised that this was not an appropriate physically punished for misbehavior.

She was advised that this was not an appropriate response to Brendan's difficulties,

but complained that she was basically a servant for her family and that her husband showed

...