€1m spent on security for psychiatric patient

THE bill to provide 24-hour security for one male patient at the acute psychiatric unit at Ennis General Hospital has exceeded €1 million.

Since July 2008, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has been spending €1,000 per day in providing security for the Ennis man.

In the two and a half years to the end of December last, the HSE had spent €908,000 and the spend has now exceeded the €1 million mark.