Needs assessment ordered for man sentenced over Tullamore Hospital offences

A MAN who Tullamore District Court heard had a cognitive impairment has admitted committing public order offences at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore.

Defending solicitor Brian Duffy said his client, a 61-year-old whose name cannot be published by order of the court, had been deemed fit to plead by a prison psychiatrist.

Judge Andrew Cody imposed consecutive sentences of two months and one month on the man but back dated them to December 10 last, when he went into Cloverhill Prison on remand.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court the charges arose from incidents at the emergency department of Tullamore Hospital where the man had made a nuisance of himself to staff and gardai.

Judge Cody expressed serious concern about the man's medical treatment in prison earlier this month and ordered the governor of Cloverhill to appear before him.

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The judge took the view the man had dementia and had been “thrown into Cloverhill and left there to rot”.

Cloverhill Prison governor Kevin O'Connell told the court that a GP assesses people once they come into prison and that assessment is passed onto a psychiatrist.

When the man appeared in court again on Wednesday (January 28) Mr Duffy said there would be a plea of guilty in light of the psychiatric report which said he was fit to plead.

Mr Duffy said a probation report recommended the man remain in custody because a primary care needs assessment should be completed.

Mr Duffy added that his client had been working at a trade for most of his life but got into difficulties because of alcohol abuse.

The solicitor said the man was very grateful to Judge Cody for his efforts to ensure he received appropriate treatment.

Mr Duffy was hopeful that the accused would be able to “get himself together” if there was accommodation for him in the community and he apologised to hospital staff and the gardai.

Imposing the sentences, Judge Cody said it would be for the man's own benefit to get off the drink.

He said that because the sentences were back dated the accused would be released in a few weeks but he hoped he would continue to receive support while in prison.

The judge did not finalise all of the charges and instead adjourned two of them to April 8 next for a probation and welfare report and the care needs assessment.