Man wins continuing HSE mental health treatment declaration

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

An unnamed man secured a continuing-care declaration against the HSE in the High Court, reported on 2 February 2023.

The man, who has a history of violent offending and psychotic illness, was released from prison in 2019 after serving six years for a random knife attack on Grafton Street, Dublin, that seriously injured two men.

The High Court found the community mental health service’s refusal to treat him was reasonable and proportionate given the risk to staff and others. It did not find a breach of constitutional rights or discrimination.

However, the court declared that the HSE had a continuing duty to provide appropriate mental health treatment in accordance with law, because the arrangements for his slow-release injections were ad hoc and might cease.