by Andrew Carey
A FORMER patient was turned away from the Acute Psychiatric Unit at University Hospital Limerick last Monday night when Gardaí brought him there for emergency admission.
Arrested in connection with a criminal damage incident, the man was taken into custody where it was established that medical intervention was required
However, despite Gardaí expressing grave concerns about his mental well-being, the man and his Garda escort were turned away after they arrived at the hospital’s A&E department.
It is understood that the man had been in receipt of treatment at the psychiatric unit up to two weeks before the incident, but on this occasion he was refused entry to the unit.
Left with no alternative, Gardaí returned with man to Newcastlewest Garda station where they were forced to charge him with a criminal offence so he could be taken into custody.
On Tuesday morning, he was released by the District Court judge from Garda custody on his own bail with the order that he appear again next month.
However, with nowhere to go, the man returned to Newcastlewest Garda Station and sat in the public office awaiting his fate.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, the HSE said that the psychiatric unit was not full when Gardaí sought admission for the man on Monday night.
In 2012, the unit’s capacity was reduced by 20 per cent, but a spokesperson for the HSE said they wanted to confirm that Unit 5B was not overcrowded on Monday night last and there were beds available for admissions.
This Wednesday, the future of former patient remained unclear as he awaited prosecution on criminal charges.
