Many psychiatric patients living in 'unacceptable and inhumane conditions'

The body charged with inspecting the country's psychiatric institutions says patients in a number of centres are still living in "entirely unacceptable and inhumane conditions".

Three mental health hospitals have been ordered to shut their doors to new patients amid warnings today they are no place for the sick.

The units – St Brendan’s, Cabra and St Ita’s, Portrane, both in Dublin, and St Senan’s Enniscorthy, Co Wexford – have been told not to admit any more acutely ill psychiatric patients.