Court orders psychiatric exam for mother

A court last night ordered that a mother charged with the murder of her son should be examined by a forensic psychiatrist at the female wing of Mountjoy prison.

A special sitting of Limerick District Court heard that Diane Ward did not want to be sent to the Central Mental Hospital as requested by the State. She was later remanded to the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy.

Ms Ward, aged 42, of 33 Harrison’s Place, Charleville, Co Cork, was charged with the murder of her son, Anthony Ward, 8, at their home on Monday. Det Sgt Michael Corbett told Judge Eugene O’Kelly that, at 5.25pm on Sep 4, he arrested Ms Ward at Cork University Hospital and brought her to Mallow Garda station.