31/10/2008

Mental Lock-Up Challenge Successful

The Dublin Government faced yet more woes last night as a woman with a history of mental illness won her High Court challenge against her involuntary detention.

She has been held in a psychiatric hospital in Dublin, against her will.

The female patient, at St Patrick's Hospital, claimed that doctors believe she would be better off in supported accommodation, but that there is none available to her - hence she remains in a 'lock-up'.

During her case, it was argued that the paperwork used for her admission only allowed for her case to be reviewed after three, six and 12 months.

To cover their tracks, the Government was forced to rush emergency legislation through the Dail last night to prevent more psychiatric patients from seeking similar orders.

In delivering his judgement, Justice Bryan McMahon found that the patient's detention did not conform with the Mental Health Act 2001 and therefore doesn't provide a legal basis for her detention.

(BMcC)

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