Man who admits killing pensioner but denies murder to go on trial this week

A man in his 50s who has admitted killing a pensioner but denies his murder will go on trial on Wednesday at the Central Criminal Court. 

Patrick McDonagh (52) with an address at Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 is charged with murdering Peter McDonald (77) on Whitechapel Road on July 25 2020. 

When arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this afternoon (Monday January 22), Mr McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to Mr McDonald's manslaughter. 

The plea was not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Mr Justice Paul Burns swore a jury of nine men and three women to hear the trial. 

Mr Justice Burns informed the jury panel that both the accused man and the deceased were living in the Blanchardstown area at the time. 

The judge said the case may run until February 7 and asked the 12 jurors to make themselves available until that date. 

The jury panel was also told that there were a number of civilian witnesses in the case.

The trial will start on Wednesday morning at 11am before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath.