Doctor’s evidence on fitness to plead rejected by judge

A JUDGE yesterday rejected the evidence of a consultant psychiatrist that a Nigerian man she is treating was fit to plead to a number of charges.

Dr Helen O’Neill, who is attached to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH), told Limerick District Court that while John Ughamadu was suffering from a mental illness and needed further treatment, it was her medical opinion he was fit to plead to two charges before the court.

Ted McCarthy, solicitor for Mr Ughamadu, aged 25, with an address at O’Connell Avenue, Limerick, gave evidence that his client was not in a position to satisfactorily instruct him to make a proper defence. His client would only understand bits of evidence due to his mental state.