Efforts to obtain psychiatric help for prisoner are 'no further along'
The man has been in custody since December, charged with threats to kill or cause serious harm and production of an article intended to cause injury.
Attempts to obtain a psychiatric evaluation for a prisoner have still not made progress. For months, the man's family and the court have expressed grave concerns for the 35-year-old man's mental health.
He has been in custody since December, charged with threats to kill or cause serious harm and production of an article intended to cause injury at a premises on Broad Street in Waterford city. He was also previously charged with assault causing harm against a nurse at University Hospital Waterford.
There has been serious difficulties in acquiring psychiatric supports for the man while he is in custody.
This week, the man’s solicitor, Kenneth Cunningham, said the matter is no further along, and the case cannot proceed further until he can take instruction from his client.
However, he cannot do this until a psychiatric report investigates the man's fitness to plead.
The court was also informed that there is no capacity at the Central Mental Hospital, and so the man remains in prison.
Mr Cunningham told his client that he hopes a psychiatric team will be available to meet him very shortly to prepare a report.
