Patient killed in hospital stabbings

A psychiatric patient is in garda custody after a series of incidents which left one patient dead, another seriously injured and a staff member also injured.

The incident happened at about 7pm last night at St Otteran’s Hospital on John’s Hill in Waterford City.

A female patient was fatally injured in a stabbing while another female patient was seriously injured.

A staff member suffered a knife injury to the face.

A man was arrested and taken to Waterford Garda Station. Gardaí would not reveal details about the deceased or injured party.

It’s understood the incident started indoors, in the hospital’s rehabilitation unit, but finished up outside.

A postmortem will be carried out today at Waterford Regional Hospital.

A HSE statement said: “An incident has occurred within the Community Mental Health Services in Waterford,” which is now “the subject of a Garda investigation. The HSE will undertake its own review.

“HSE wishes to offer its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.”