Psychiatric report deems accused unfit to stand trial

Psychiatric services have deemed an accused man unfit to stand trial in Waterford.

The 35-year-old man has been in custody since December.

In the District Court, he is facing charges of threats to kill or cause serious harm and production of an article intended to cause injury at the Sara Technology premises on Broad Street in Waterford city.

He has also been charged with a separate incident of assault causing harm, after allegedly attacking a nurse at University Hospital Waterford. This matter has been sent forward for trial at the Circuit Criminal Court.

For months, the court has been making efforts to obtain the necessary psychiatric report to progress these matters.

The aim of this report is to determine the man’s capacity to plead to his charges.

The delivery of the report has, however, been a long and arduous saga. Grave concerns have been expressed for the man’s mental health during this period.

The issue is a national one, as staffing and resource deficits continue to create serious delays in obtaining psychiatric help for those in custody. The matter has previously been described in Waterford District Court as “diabolical”.

A Waterford judge said in June that he is “very tired” of remanding people in prison who should be in mental health units.

Report results

In updates provided last week, Waterford District Court was informed that a report has finally been procured for the man.

The report outlines that the man was well enough to comprehend the severity of his crimes while he was committing them, however, due to the serious mental health concerns he faces at present, he is unable to stand trial.

This matter must now be considered by both the District Court and the Circuit Court.

District Court judge Kevin Staunton adjourned until later this month, to allow for final procedural requirements to be dealt with.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme