Gaps in services see mentally ill people end up in prison

Dr Susan Finnerty, Inspector of Mental Health Servicese referred in the new report to the under-resourced mental health service where the only out-of-hours provision is through A&E departments, the lack of formal pre-arrest diversion, and an under-resourced and over-worked court diversion service.

A new report has laid bare the shortfall in mental health services for people in the criminal justice system, claiming those who have offended are not afforded equal access to the care they need.

The report, written by Dr Susan Finnerty, Inspector of Mental Health Services, with support from Patricia Gilheaney, Inspector of Prisons, highlights the chronic shortage of services available to those who need them.