Woman brought to court from Central Mental Hospital

A YOUNG County Wexford woman accused of domestic violence offences, who has been held at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin, appeared once more before Wexford District Court.

The defendant, aged in her 20s, was brought from the hospital in Dundrum to the courthouse in Belvedere Road under escort.

Her solicitor Ed King passed on word from her psychiatrist at the high security CMH.

The news from Dublin was that there was no bed immediately available at the department of psychiatry in Waterford to allow the accused move closer to home.

However, Mr King was optimistic that a place would soon become fall vacant.

Judge Brian O’Shea pointed out that the charges facing the woman were not overly serious, yet she had been in custody for several months.

The judge suggested a further remand in custody but with consent to bail once the Waterford bed becomes available.

He felt that all offences had been committed while she was suffering from an illness and that a plea of insanity was possible.

He looked for an updated report from the Central Mental Hospital and remanded her, with the consent to bail as outlined, for eight days.

Mr King informed the court that assault charges were also outstanding, dating from time when his client was held at Dóchas, the women’s prison in Dublin before she was referred to Dundrum.

The mother of the accused was in court for the brief hearing and saw her daughter sign a bail bond before being brought back to the CMH.

The solicitor expressed the hope that she will be a patient in Waterford by the time her case is called again today (December 10).