Murder trials delayed by psychiatrists’ workload, judge warns

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

Murder trials were delayed by psychiatrists’ workload, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said at the Central Criminal Court on 23 October 2024.

The judge spoke with lawyers involved in 13 murder cases in which an accused person’s psychiatric condition was being considered as a possible issue at trial. Defence and prosecution lawyers reported mixed success in finding consultant psychiatrists willing to prepare court reports.

McDermott said Central Mental Hospital psychiatrists could not take on private court reports because of their workload. He also noted that treating an accused person could prevent a psychiatrist from preparing a report, while some legal teams had raised concerns about legal aid rates.

He said he would monitor progress in each case, while acknowledging he had no control over securing a consultant psychiatrist for the work.