This article is from page 3 of the 2008-07-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
AN ENNIS man has been denied a bed in the Central Mental Hospi- tal (CMH) in Dublin due to lack of space, despite a court ruling that he be moved there.
The dramatic revelation emerged at Ennis District Court last Friday evening, shortly after Judge Joseph Mangan had directed that the man, who was in court on several charges, be taken to the CMH in Dundrum.
The court was later told that there
was no bed available for the man, whose identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons. He was then taken to the psychiatric unit at Ennis General Hospital.
Earlier the court heard there was a fitness to plead issue relating to the case.
The court heard from Derry O’Donovan, a solicitor representing the Health Services Executive. “In relation to fitness to plead, there are six different categories. Even if he is fit to be tried, it doesn’t get away
from the fact the man has a mental disorder,’ said Mr O’ Donovan.
ATUTelexemm\Y Ev oteecvomncr-D(CMmNet-lMmislommereleyas had heard previously that the accused was not fit to be tried.
Mr O’Donovan pointed out that the ultimate decision regarding whether the man be received at the CMH rest- ed with its Clinical Director, Profes- sor Harry Kennedy.
Judge Mangan said he was ordering “that the accused be transferred to the Central Mental Hospital”.
Inspector Michael Gallagher then
told the court that previously in an- other court where a similar order had been made, gardai arrived at the CMH and the patient had been re- JEU ore MSIL NAA
Judge Mangan replied, “If they refuse to take the patient at the door of the CMH, the order collapses. I don’t see why he would be brought back to this court. It’s out of the hands of this court.”
Mr O’Donovan said that he was in- volved in the previous matter which was referred to by Inspector Gal-
lagher and said the problem related to bed space. “The CMH has more staff per patients than any other psy- chiatric unit in the country. It is a very secure unit,’ he said.
‘I can’t see the director refusing. If he does, his (the patient) status 1s that of an involuntary patient in the men- tal health system,” said the solicitor.
“The CMH is the only place in the country. If there 1s no space, these particular laws are set to nought and we are dealing with sick people,” he added.