Psychiatric assessment for Irving

Animal abuse suspect failed to attend first assessment in 2015

The former southern Alberta woman charged after 200 dogs were taken from her by the SPCA in 2014 and 2015, has been ordered to have a psychiatric assessment. It’s the second time April Dawn Irving has been ordered to have the assessment. The first time was in November 2015 but the accused, who was not in custody at the time, failed to attend and later disappeared. During a hearing Monday in Lethbridge provincial court, Irving was ordered again to have the 30-day assessment, this time as an inpatient since she is in custody and will not have a choice but to attend.

The former Milk River-area resident faces one charge of animal cruelty under the Criminal Code and 13 charges under the Animal Protection Act. She was charged early in 2015 after she voluntarily surrendered 60 dogs to the SPCA in December 2014, and after another 141 dogs were seized Jan. 13, 2015, after authorities returned to her property with a warrant.

Officials reported many of the dogs were emaciated, dirty, dehydrated and suffering from various medical and behavioural ailments, and were found under trailers, in outbuildings and outside where they were exposed to cold weather.

The accused attended court several times in relation to her charges and was ordered Nov. 20, 2015 to have a psychiatric assessment to determine whether she was suffering a mental disorder at the time of the alleged offences and can be held criminally responsible.

The case was repeatedly adjourned, however, because Irving, 59, reportedly broke her leg and had to be hospitalized, which prevented her from meeting with the forensic psychiatrist.

A warrant was finally issued for her arrest after she missed a court hearing in February 2016, and her lawyer was allowed to withdraw from the case the following July when she still hadn’t shown up. The accused had reportedly fled to Jamaica. She was finally arrested in Manitoba last month and returned to Lethbridge.

During Monday’s hearing, at which Irving appeared by closedcircuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, the accused asked the judge to order the psychiatrist at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre in Calgary to provide her with information detailing what she can expect during the assessment. She also asked that the assessment process be expedited; that she be able to see an orthopedic surgeon for a knee injury; and that she remain in solitary confinement in Lethbridge until her appointment in Calgary.

Irving said she has been housed alone in the Lethbridge jail after being threatened by both guards and other inmates. The RCMP, she added, are investigating the allegations. She also wants to be housed alone after she arrives in Calgary.

Judge Derek Redman didn’t grant her request for a surgeon, but agreed to recommend she be allowed to contact the SAFPC to discuss the assessment process, and that she be housed alone. He didn’t, however, order that the assessment process be expedited.

“All of the matters are supposed to be expedited,” Redman said.

Irving has not had a bail hearing since she was arrested last month and remains in custody. Her next court hearing is set for March 13.

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