De Rossa son to spend Christmas in Central Mental Hospital

A son of Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa, who is charged with assaulting his father, is to spend Christmas on remand in the Central Mental Hospital.

Fearghal De Rossa (aged 45) of Old Finglas Road, Dublin, had been remanded in custody on November 12 after he was accused of attacking his 71-year-old father.

A court heard today that he may suffer from schizophrenia and there were objections to him being released on bail due to the seriousness of the charge.

He has been charged under section three of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act for assault causing harm to the former government minister, in Dublin, on November 11.

On November 16 last, he had been transferred to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Dundrum, south Dublin for treatment after a judge heard there was “an issue in relation to mental health”.

He appeared again at Cloverhill District Court today where Judge David McHugh heard that a medical report on Mr De Rossa was not yet available.

However, defence counsel Mark Lynam told Judge McHugh that he had been informed that Mr De Rossa could suffer from schizophrenia.

Mr Lynam informed the court that a bail application has not yet been made and the defence had not been informed of the Garda objections. He also said that Mr De Rossa did not want to stay in the CMH indefinitely.

A court garda sergeant told Judge McHugh said that objections to bail would be based on the seriousness of the allegation, “an assault where a family member was injured”. The judge also heard that the defendant is currently of no fixed abode.

Judge McHugh further remanded Mr De Rossa, who did not apply for bail, in custody to appear again on January 13 next for a medical report to be furnished to the court and for directions from the DPP to be obtained.

During the case, Mr De Rossa spoke to his barrister who confirmed that there was consent to the judge's order.

The DPP's directions are needed to determine whether Mr De Rossa should face trial in the District Court or instead sent forward to the Circuit Court

The maximum sentence on conviction for assault causing harm at Circuit Court level is a five-year prison term.