A brain damaged homeless man is one of 300 people with a mental
condition in Mountjoy Prison’s high-dependency unit.
Professor Harry Kennedy of the Central Mental Hospital yesterday hit out at the “lack of joined-up thinking”.
He insisted they have a caseload of about “300 people a year” in the prisons with severe mental illnesses or disorders.
Professor Kennedy added: “That is about 6% of everyone in prison at
the moment. And 3% of those who come through the doors have those needs.”
During a High Court hearing on Thursday, Mr Justice Peter Kelly described the “staggering” and “truly awful situation” that “should not exist in a civilised state”.
The vulnerable man has been on remand for more than a year in Mountjoy despite persistent reports he needs residential care.
A court-appointed medical visitor had reported the man, while otherwise doing well in the high dependency unit has “absolutely filthy” feet and hugely overgrown and curled toenails.
He was arrested in November last year and charged with assaulting two security guards who approached him when sheltering in the women’s toilets of a Dublin shopping centre.
Professor Kennedy said: “Prisons are not hospitals.
“We do as much as we possibly can. Prisons are very very caring compared to how I remember when I started doing this work 30 years ago, but the lack of joined-up thinking is a problem.”
He told Sean O’Rourke on RTE Radio One: “What is interesting over the last five years or so is we are seeing more elderly men.
“As well as looking after younger men with schizophrenia, we are also looking after older men with early dementia, even Huntington’s disease.”
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan hit out at the “disturbing” case yesterday and suggested there would be an urgent response.
He said: “I intend to discuss the case as a matter of urgency with my Cabinet colleague Simon Harris.”
