Central Mental Hospital boss to explain non-admission of 'chronic schizophrenic'

The director of the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) is to come to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court next Thursday concerning a "very sick chronic schizophrenic" who the court heard is a danger to society and his own family.

Judge Michael White requested the appearance of the director after he was told that this man would not be accepted at the CMH because he was not suicidal, had not acted in a serious assault case in response "to voices in his head" and also because there was a bed shortage.

Christopher Gleeson (aged 20), of Corduff Green, Blanchardstown, who pleaded guilty to assault on October 18, 2003 causing serious harm to a teacher, Mr Edward Patrick Fanning, was remanded on continuing bail for sentence.

Mr Fanning (aged 28), from Gorey, Co Wexford, told Judge White that his life was destroyed by thugs who left him for dead after he stopped them trying to hijack his car while he held a party for his son’s first birthday.

Judge White said he was "shocked" to hear that Gleeson did not qualify for admission to the CMH for treatment he obviously needed. There had to be a custodial element in his sentence which the court had to structure to ensure he was treated in view of the evidence that he could be a danger even to his own family.

Dr Brian McCaffrey, forensic psychiatrist, told defence counsel, Ms Isobel Kennedy SC, that Gleeson was "a very sick young man with serious mental illness" and he agreed with another medical diagnosis that he was "a chronic schizophrenic" of borderline intelligence.

Dr McCaffrey said "flashing lights went off in my head" following his interviews with Gleeson and he warned his mother and solicitor about dangers to the family unless his condition was dealt with. He said Gleeson was getting substantial daily medication which was essential for his present stability.

Dr McCaffrey said Gleeson’s problems had been exacerbated by his indulging in "street drugs and alcohol". He was perfectly normal until about 17 years old but deteriorated rapidly following two accidents. Head injuries he suffered, especially from the second accident, were not the cause of his problem.

Dr McCaffrey said Coolmine had ruled him out as being a suitable candidate for admission there and he could not get into the CMH because he wasn’t suicidal and was not "hearing voices in his head". He only got necessary information from Gleeson "because I was aggressive in my interview".

Gleeson had been sitting in his room for some time without speaking to anyone and only grunting in reply to them. He went out that evening looking for cannabis but "wasn’t driven by voices in is head" when he became involved in the attack on Mr Fanning. "He was very mentally ill on that occasion," Dr McCaffrey said.

Ms Kennedy noted that evidence from Sergeant Brian Gill indicated Gleeson was not the prime mover in the serious assault on Mr Fanning but was a hanger-on. The evidence against him was from his own admission and only he and another person of the seven who attacked Mr Fanning had been brought to justice.

Mr Fanning told the court that as a result of being "savagely attacked outside his home by seven thugs who he said had "captured and terrorised a lovely estate", he woke up in hospital six and a half weeks later "not knowing where I was or what happened to me".

He had to undergo brain surgery to relieve a life-threatening blood clot, had surgery on his left elbow and his chin was broken in two places, among other injuries.

"My whole life has been changed completely and destroyed by these people. My relationship has ended and now I only see my son every fortnight," he told Judge White.

Mr Fanning, in an emotional address to the court, told how a priest was called to his hospital bed and his parents were asked if he had ever spoken about organ donation. "Luckily, I survived," he said.

He said "seven people did this to me" and seven files were sent forward by the gardaí but only two people were charged. His security was now ruined and he was forced through intimidation to sell "a lovely house in a lovely estate and now I live in rented accommodation".

"When are we going to call a spade a spade? When is the punishment going to fit the crime? I could have died there on the road. I could have left my son fatherless," Mr Fanning told Judge White.

Sergeant Gill told prosecuting counsel, Mr Fergal Foley BL, that Mr Fanning answered a knock to his door at about 10pm on October 18, 2003 to find a gang trying to break into his car.

He chased them away and was attacked by the gang who left him unconscious on the road.