Womanmust beseenby psychiatrist

A judge has ordered that a “vulnerable” woman with an intellectual disability must be seen by a psychiatrist as a matter of urgency after fresh assault charges were brought against her.

Susan McMorrow ( 41) of Highfield, Tubbercurry, appeared at Tubbercurry District court last week.

She’s accused of assaulting Mary McHugh and Bernadette Pilkington at the National Learning Network centre on Teeling Street, on April 2nd 2013, Bridget Quinn and Geraldine Brennan at Mountain Road on March 13th 2014, and John TrueLove at her home on January 30th 2015.

McMorrow also faced a new charge of assaulting Jaswinder Singh and a Public Order offence at Supervalu, Tubbercurry on January 21st this year.

Her solicitor Mr Eamon Gallagher told Judge Kilrane that McMorrow was a “vulnerable lady” who lived most of her life in institutional care until the HSE moved her out on her own in 2013.

Mr Gallagher said her learning disability supports had been reduced: “She’s offered fortnightly appointments with a social worker in a public venue.”

Judge Kilrane said the more recent assault in January was worrying and he wanted to hear from “someone working with her week to week on the ground.”

Inspector Padraig Burke said McMorrow had come to the attention of the Gardaí “on a number of occasions for assault.”

Mr Gallagher said his client was “always liable to outbursts” and was currently on “a high dose of anti- psychotic” medication for bipolar disorder.

“She has a mild intellectual disability, borderline personality disorder and displayed mild aggression but is also vulnerable to negative influences,” he said.

“Living with others was deemed not in her interests - independent living was thought best, with support from her family and friends,” he said.

He said it was the HSE’s view that McMorrow was capable of independent living but he asked “how that could be achieved with her medical issues.”

Judge Kilrane agreed that to be on a high dose of anti- psychotics “would indicate a more serious problem than a mild aggressive behaviour disorder.”

McMorrow told the judge herself that when she doesn’t take her medication she goes “downhill” and assaults people.

“I don’t want to be on my own anymore,” she told the judge. “I’m lonely. I keep telling my social worker. I was in Cloonamahon for ten years and I didn’t assault anyone,” she said.

McMorrow also pointed to her wrists and said she had attempted suicide.

“As a lay person, I cannot agree that she’s capable of independent living,” said Judge Kilrane.

“She said it herself. She goes downhill. Someone’s going to be hurt,” he said.

“People can become institutionalised. In my view, this lady is probably not able to live independently and should be in a form of HSE- operated institution. There is a serious risk here,” he told Mr Gallagher.

He remanded McMorrow on continuing bail to March 23rd for her to be seen by a psychiatrist as “a matter of urgency.”

“That psychiatrist is to furnish a report to the HSE and I need someone from the HSE to be in court to tell me what is going on and if she’s being taken into care and if not, why not,” the judge ordered.

“This lady has attempted suicide. She’s on anti- psychotic mediation. She needs help. I think there should be a full case study on the defendant because she’s a risk to herself and others.

“If the HSE don’t do something about it I’ll have to remand you in custody to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum,” he told McMorrow.