Amnesty slams Irish record on mental healthcare

Amnesty International has accused the Government of ignoring international reports criticising its lack of action on care for the mentally ill.

The global human rights organisation said Ireland has failed to fulfil its United Nations obligations to respect the rights of people with mental illnesses.

Fiona Crowley from Amnesty's Irish branch said: "We're adding our voice to those of national organisations and individuals who have been calling for an end to neglect of mental healthcare for quite some time.

"We want to reinforce the message that the best available mental healthcare for all is a human right and is an obligation that Ireland has signed up to at UN level."