Commission reports 'should not be weaponised' to close Owenacurra facility, says TD
“The Mental Health Commission (MHC) is completely within their rights to issue reports, but they can’t then take their hands off the wheel as to how those reports are supposed to be used,” Neasa Hourigan told the Irish Examiner. File picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos
A member of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee has accused the Mental Health Commission of allowing itself to be “weaponised” to secure the closure of the Owenacurra mental health facility in East Cork.
Government TD Neasa Hourigan, who is also a member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said the Mental Health Commission has allowed the HSE to cite its reports regarding the poor quality of the structure of Owenacurra as a reason to close the centre, despite the fact that the Commission has made similarly adverse findings regarding other facilities in Co. Cork.
