The High Court of Ireland's ruling [1], which this article seems to have mined for most of the facts (some of it nearly verbatim) is worth reading, rather than speculating wildly.
In short, the court found that Presho's bipolar disorder likely preceded the disappearance of the house, but that it was a factor in Presho's inability to protect his legal rights at the time.
As far as I interpret the ruling, the sequence of events was roughly:
* Persho left for New Zealand for 8 years, leaving the house boarded up and in the care of a local. During that time, a hotel was constructed next door, and its builder used the house illegally for lodging.
* Around that time, the house fell into disrepair (if you read between the lines, they may also have stripped it for scraps) and suffered serious fire damage (highly likely arson).
* At some unknown point in time, the house was demolished, probably by the owner of the hotel with the help of a local contractor (who was in possession of the only digger on the island) in order to clear the view.
* The local garda did not find any evidence suggesting (or refuting) any criminal acts. However, the court appears to recognize the existence of a conspiracy among the locals.
* When Persho returned in 1994, he responded to erratically to the loss of his house, and due to his bipolar disorder was not able to follow through with legal proceedings until the 2000s.
In short, the court found that Presho's bipolar disorder likely preceded the disappearance of the house, but that it was a factor in Presho's inability to protect his legal rights at the time.
As far as I interpret the ruling, the sequence of events was roughly:
* Persho left for New Zealand for 8 years, leaving the house boarded up and in the care of a local. During that time, a hotel was constructed next door, and its builder used the house illegally for lodging.
* Around that time, the house fell into disrepair (if you read between the lines, they may also have stripped it for scraps) and suffered serious fire damage (highly likely arson).
* At some unknown point in time, the house was demolished, probably by the owner of the hotel with the help of a local contractor (who was in possession of the only digger on the island) in order to clear the view.
* The local garda did not find any evidence suggesting (or refuting) any criminal acts. However, the court appears to recognize the existence of a conspiracy among the locals.
* When Persho returned in 1994, he responded to erratically to the loss of his house, and due to his bipolar disorder was not able to follow through with legal proceedings until the 2000s.
[1] https://www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/5da053ed4653d07dedfd58...