Psychiatric patients denied review of status

Catherine Shanahan

Yesterday Health Minister Mary Harney blamed hospital consultants for the failure to get mental health tribunals which would have the power to order the release of a patient detained involuntarily up and running.

Speaking during her first appearance at a meeting of the Dáil Health Committee, the Tánaiste said the absence of tribunals meant hundreds of psychiatric patients detained involuntarily were being denied an independent review of the decision to commit them.