Psychiatric report delay 'unsatisfactory' says Waterford judge
Waterford Courthouse
A Waterford judge has described a psychiatric report delay as “very unsatisfactory” for a defendant whose family have “grave concerns” for his mental health.
The man, who is of no fixed abode, appeared by video link before Judge Kevin Staunton at Waterford District Court charged with threats to kill or cause serious harm at Sara Technology, on Broad Street, on December 14, 2025.
Bail was previously refused, and a file is to be sent to the DPP to decide how to proceed.
At previous sittings, solicitor Ken Cunningham expressed the concerns of the man’s family around his mental health, and Judge Kevin Staunton ordered a psychiatric report.
However, at the most recent sitting, the report was not yet available, and the solicitor reiterated the family’s concerns, calling them “grave”.
A family member was in court to advocate for the man and ask for the court to intervene further.
But Judge Staunton said he had already ordered the report, and the pace was “very unsatisfactory, but there is nothing the court can do”.
The man’s family member asked that her family be granted decision-making rights for the defendant so that they could act on his behalf.
She confirmed for the court that the man had already been assessed but she can not access those reports.
Judge Staunton said that he would direct again that the report be available for the next court sitting later this month.
