Courts / Dublin / Report
Mother who smothered daughter (3) committed to CMH
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 5 November 2019, a 43‑year‑old woman was ordered to remain committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) after being found not guilty of murdering her three‑year‑old daughter by smothering her with a pillow. The court had previously vacated the committal order because no bed was available, but a bed became available two days after the verdict. Mr Justice Michael White, after hearing evidence from consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney, confirmed that the woman should continue to be detained at the CMH for further treatment, with ongoing review by the Mental Health Review Board. Dr Mullaney's report noted the woman's history of depressive episodes, her cooperation after the verdict, and her willingness to continue treatment with anti‑psychotic Olanzapine and anti‑depressant Sertraline, as well as psychological work.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mother who smothered daughter (3) committed to CMH. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- February 13, 2018 Other
- 2019-11-05 Publication
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