The Central Mental Hospital broke its approved capacity of female patients last month because of a shortage of space. Last month a woman was found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity and the Central Mental Hospital was legally required to find space for her. It has now emerged that day Dr Brenda Wright, a clinical director of the National Forensic Mental Health Service in the hospital, wrote to the Mental Health Commission. "At any time there are between 25 and 30 people in prison on the waiting list for transfer to the Central Mental Hospital - many of them for many months. Prison is toxic for the mentally ill."We need more capacity in the Central Mental Hospital."

Source: Irish Examiner November 27, 2019 09:00 UTC