No place for mother who smothered her child in 'full' Central Mental Hospital

The woman described to gardaí how she held the pillow over the child's face as she struggled and screamed. Her toddler called out for her daddy and finally let out a sigh, she said.

A mother found to have been insane when she smothered her child with a pillow cannot be committed to the Central Mental Hospital because the facility has reached "full capacity in its quota of female patients", a court has heard.

A barrister for the HSE told the Central Criminal Court today that every effort is being made to secure a bed for the woman and it was hoped that the matter would be resolved by tomorrow morning.