Mental health group argues against hospital move

THE state body appointed to safeguard the rights of the mentally ill said the Government’s decision to move the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) to Thornton Hall would “promote isolation and exclusion” of patients.

The Mental Health Commission said putting the CMH beside the new prison complex at Thornton would “increase the stigma” already experienced by people with a mental illness.

Commission chief executive Bríd Clarke told the Oireachtas health committee that the commission was never consulted by the Government before its shock announcement in 2004.