Psychiatric assessment ordered for 'vulnerable' woman accused of Offaly assaults

A PSYCHIATRIC assessment has been ordered for a woman who appeared before Tullamore District Court this week.

The order was made by Judge Andrew Cody after the barrister representing the woman had a consultation with her.

The 32-year-old, who cannot be named by order of the court, is accused of attacking her mother and two gardai and was previously remanded in custody with consent to bail.

After some appearances before the court by video link she was present in person on Wednesday (March 4) and defence counsel David Nugent, BL, said he had a consultation with her and reported that her position was that she was illegally in custody.

Mr Nugent said his experience told him she was not fit to give him instructions but she said she had not received psychiatric help while in custody and did not need it.

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He said the office of his instructing solicitor, Aisling Maloney, had made contact with psychiatric practitioners without success.

Judge Cody made an order for an “urgent” psychiatric assessment in the prison and remanded the woman in custody again, with consent to bail, to March 18.

When the judge asked the woman to meet the medical staff in the prison she told him she had been put in custody illegally.

A week earlier when she was before the court by video link, the judge told her that the €400 independent bail required from her to facilitate her release could be reduced but she would also have to supply an address.

Mr Nugent told the court on Wednesday the woman could not get an address until she was released and suggested that she could be allowed to engage with homeless services in Dublin.

“She is a vulnerable person,” said Mr Nugent.

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The court has been told a file on the matter will be going to the DPP.

The court was told previously during a bail application that the prosecution evidence would be that the woman had brandished, but not used, a meat hammer, when she was assaulting her mother.

The assault resulted in the injured party's face being cut and her glasses broken. One garda who came to the scene was struck in the nose with a heel and another was headbutted, loosening the guard's tooth, the court heard.

The woman's mother told the court she no longer wished her daughter, who had been coming and going from the family home, to be living at home. Her daughter needed help and had previously been cared for by the psychiatric services.

The court was told the accused would be applying to her local authority for assistance with finding alternative accommodation.