Psychopath: The case of Patrick Mackay

by Tim Clark, John Penycate

First published in 1976, Psychopath is a study of Patrick Mackay who, in 1974 - with a string of muggings and killings behind him - was on trial for murder and was imprisoned in November 1975. John Penycate and Tim Clark - responsible for the controversial BBC Panorama programme on Patrick Mackay's case - here take their investigation further and raise the important question of how the various responsible agencies which came into contact with him failed to see the danger and prevent these needless killings. Mackay passed through five mental institutions as well as approved schools, remand centres and homes. Twice he had been released from Moss Side Special Hospital - the North of England's equivalent to Broadmoor - against the advice of his doctors. Penycate and Clark show that the signs were there for all to see. They give a detailed account of Patrick Mackay's deterioration, from his turbulent childhood, through numerous suicide attempts, acts of violence and spells in mental and penal institutions, to his becoming London's most notorious 'mugger' and a multiple killer, culminating in the final maniacal axing of his friend Father Crean, illustrated here with Mackay's own words. This book will be of interest to students of criminology, psychology, penology, government, and media.

Genres: True Crime

140 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreadful picture of how the psychiatric system, the legal system and even the family system failed a very disturbed young man, with seriously bad outcomes for some of the people around him. Alarming picture of how the legal system and the mental-health system in England actively undermined each other's efforts to change Patrick Mackay's life. Even when he wanted the help, he couldn't get it. And then it got to be too late.

[Annie Feng · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book by chance and it really opened up the psychopathic mind, put a character to the condition. Given the book was published in 1976, along with its intended documentational nature, much of the analysis was shallow if there were any at all, making the read much less satisfying than I would've liked.

On the other hand the book was well-researched and remained objective in spite of the very sensitive and emotional subject matter. The author merely documented a biography with little judgement, and I imagine that if I had lived in 1976 England, this book would be the counterweight balancing out the constant media bombardment. Overall a worthy read, however not a terrifically impactful one.

[PAUL · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-written account of the disturbing story of psychopath, Patrick Mackay. Several men and women were brutally murdered by this troubled man. Many he never stood trial for and some remain on file.
Born into a dysfunctional family, his father was an alcoholic and quite brutal at times, Mackay was trouble with a capital T from a very early age. Cruel to animals, his sisters and a prolific thief, classic signs of a budding psychopath. Having said that he was hugely let down by the authorities, sectioned and released countless times by a lax system not fit for purpose in the 1960's and 70's.

[Bill reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick MacKay was said to have a "severe personality disorder" after hacking a Catholic priest to death with an axe in a bathtub. Duh! I do not require a medical degree to believe that Patrick is not dealing with a full deck.
The book was written in 1976 and so a comparison with Albert DeSalvo(the Boston Strangler) is made. Both men were cruel to animals in childhood and came from homes with frequent domestic violence. His father was a violent drunk who beat his wife Marion and son Patrick.
At the age of eleven, Pat was torturing animals and stole a neighbor's garden gnomes and set them up in his yard and conversed with them . He set a fire in a Catholic church and was put on probation. His long suffering Catholic mother was put away after a nervous breakdown.
At thirteen, the troubled boy was placed in a reform school after destroying furniture at his home and at a doctor's office. When released to the care of his unstable mother, Patrick attempted to strangle dear old mom. Another two years of probation was ordered.
At fifteen, a Home Office shrink diagnosed MacKay as a cold, psychopathic killer and proved to be correct in his assessment of the future murderer. Poor Father Crean would be one of Pat's unfortunate victims.
In 1969, a court ordered tribunal consisting of a doctor, a lawyer and a social worker ruled that Patrick should be released from Moss Side(a mental hospital) to the care of his mother. Over the next few years, he was in and out of nut houses while his well meaning mom fought for his freedom. She tolerated his occasional beatings. His sister Ruth was also a ward of the state for a time at Broadmoor. What a family!!
In 1975, he killed five people, including the aforementioned Catholic priest. As of 2022, parole is still a possibility for the lunatic.

[Amber London · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had alerts all over for this book, as it’s been out of print for years and it’s notoriously difficult to find a copy.

Anyway, I was very surprised at the current writing style, considering it was written in 1976, I thought it might be old fashioned, but the author writes in a very factual manner and doesn’t presume or add his own ideas or feelings.

This book is jam packed with little details about Patrick Mackays early life, teenage years and his 20s, until his arrest. For anyone who has read the most recent book published about Mackay, I’d say this earlier book has more details about his personal life, but not so much detail about the crimes he was charged for or his alleged crimes. Also, there are facts in this book, about his family, that oppose the most recent book and both cannot be correct.

There are also plenty of photos, but nothing new that hasn’t already been seen online. There are however, a few documents, that I haven’t seen previously.

This book really gave me a ‘feel’ for Patrick’s early life and how he and his victims were let down by social services and mental health professionals.

If you’re interested in Patrick Mackay, it’s worth hunting a copy of this book down.

[David]

John Penycate is your grade A bigoted liar!! He knows he has lied on record to Fred Dineage, however…….he’s just an old man set in his narrow minded ways so you have to excuse his horrific point of view!