Man charged with murder of fellow patient

A male psychiatric patient was charged with the murder of a female patient in Waterford at a special district court sitting last night.

Detective Sergeant Donal Donohue told Judge Kevin Staunton he arrested 36-year-old Paul Cuddihy, with an address at St Otteran’s Psychiatric Hospital, John’s Hill, Waterford, on September 6, and charged him with the murder of mother-of-three Maria O’Brien. In reply, Cuddihy replied: “no comment.”

Barrister Tara Geoghegan applied for legal aid and to have Mr Cuddihy psychiatrically assessed.

Judge Staunton granted legal aid and directed that the defendant receive medical and psychiatric attention. He remanded the accused in custody to Tuesday next.

The victim, aged 55, had been a patient at the hospital for 10 years. A postmortem examination was carried out by deputy state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis at Waterford University Hospital.

A female psychiatric patient who was also injured in the incident is recovering in Waterford University Hospital where her condition is described as comfortable. A female staff nurse who suffered slash injuries has been discharged.

The Health and Safety Authority has launched an independent investigation into the incident which occurred in a residential house occupied by female patients in the hospital grounds.

Members of Ms O’Brien’s family attended the brief court hearing last night and later called for a review of the safety and wellbeing of mental patients and staff at the hospital.

The family said in a statement that they were appalled that no nurse or security staff was stationed in the residential house in the hospital grounds on the night of the fatality.

They also called for a full public enquiry to be held as soon as possible and for a review of the safety and wellbeing of patients and the hospital staff.

“Maria was a kind-hearted person who would go out of her way to help anybody and she was a loving mother and grandmother. She will be dearly missed by her family,” the statement added.

The family also wished for a full recovery for the injured female patient, who attempted to protect Maria, as well as the female staff member who happened on the scene of the incident.