Courts / Dublin / Report
Judge put in 'terrible position' over putting autistic man 'out on the streets'
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan expressed that he was in a "terrible position" after being asked to release John Delaney, a 26‑year‑old autistic man, into society. Delaney, who has spent about nine months in Portlaoise prison, was charged with assault, intimidation with a butter knife, and criminal damage at the Fr Peter McVerry shelter in Finglas on 18 February 2020. A consultant psychiatrist testified that Delaney was unfit to stand trial. Judge Nolan initially ordered a release in one week, but the prosecution advised that this was not legally permissible. He therefore stayed the release until Monday, hoping a suitable accommodation could be found, and warned that releasing Delaney without proper care would leave him "in limbo" and potentially endanger the community.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judge put in 'terrible position' over putting autistic man 'out on the streets'. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- February 18, 2020 Incident
- 2020-11-20 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Central Mental Hospital
- Portlaoise
- Portlaoise prison
Topics
Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime
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