A judge has continued orders permitting the detention of a vulnerable intellectually disabled man, who is not mentally ill, in a hospital psychiatric ward while the HSE finalises plans for a more appropriate placement. When a bed became available in a psychiatric ward on Tuesday, the man was moved there, but a consultant psychiatrist expressed concern his remaining there for any length of time would be detrimental. ‘Sub-optimal’Mr Justice Kelly agreed the psychiatric ward option was “sub-optimal”, but said it was a better option than a Garda station. Because the man is a ward of court and his intellectual disability rendered him vulnerable in the past to people who preyed on him to his personal and financial detriment after he absconded from a care facility, he needed a secure placement, the judge said. The judge continued the orders to November 24th to allow the HSE secure a placement.

Source: The Irish Times November 16, 2017 20:15 UTC