Parents’ fears for effect of prison life on their son

THE parents of Patrick O’Dwyer, the young Co Clare man who killed his sister, have voiced their fears for the effect that prison will have on him.

O’Dwyer, 21, was sentenced to six years in jail earlier this week for the manslaughter of 19-year-old Marguerite at the family home in Ennistymon, Co Clare, in November 2004 while he was suffering a psychiatric episode.

A jury found him guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, the first time such a verdict has been handed down here, but the judge had only the usual options of prison or a suspended sentence to impose on him.

His mother, Claire O’Dwyer, told RTÉ radio yesterday the family were suffering an “absolute nightmare”. “We know something awful came over Patrick that night. It wasn’t him,” she told the Gerry Ryan Show.

“Our hearts are broken for him. We’re worried for him. We want to get the best care possible for him, not only now but for the rest of his life. We’d love if there was a system in place that he could be monitored on an ongoing basis for the rest of his life.”

Ms O’Dwyer said that she did not expect Patrick to be released without supervision and she criticised the State for not putting in place some alternative to prison for people like him.

Paddy O’Dwyer, Patrick’s father, said his son was being treated well in Wheatfield Prison, but he said the treatment options there were limited.

“We can’t fault the prison he’s in, but it’s just the environment he’s in. We would be very concerned the long-term effects that would have on him going in at that tender age.

“He is at a very impressionable time of his life."