The trial is continuing of a 41-year old man who threw a homemade petrol bomb through the window of former Mayo TD Michelle Mulherin’s constituency office in Ballina.

At the opening of the trial yesterday at the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar, a consultant psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin said that the accused, John Clarke of Greenhills Estate, Ballina was suffering from a drug induced psychosis on January 27, 2015 when he staged the arson attack on the premises Ms. Mulherin, who is now a Senator , leases at Casement Street, Ballina,.

Dr. Frank Kelly outlined that Mr. Clarke had been to a number of parties in the period prior to the incident where he consumed a significant amount of drugs including, amphetamines, cocaine, methadone, valium and alcohol.

Significant damage to I.T. equipment as well as fire damage to lights, fittings, curtains and blinds was inflicted in the incident on Senator Mulherin’s office.

Mr. Clarke is pleading not guilty to a single count of arson.

At the outset of the case, Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the State, told the jury they could return one of three verdicts – guilty, not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity.

The trial is continuing today.