HSE fined over breaches of Mental Health Act at Kilkenny Psychiatric Unit

“The place was totally unacceptable & I think the inspectors were shocked by that”

That’s how the CEO of the Mental Health Commission John Farrelly summed up findings during an unannounced inspection of the Department of Psychiatry at St Luke’s Hospital last November.

Details were revealed at Kilkenny District Court yesterday after a landmark case that saw the HSE convicted of a number of charges relating to breaches of the 2001 Mental Health Act.

It was fined €5,200 after pleading guilty to 4 charges.

Mr Farrelly told KCLR news they felt it was necessary to take the case because a Mental Health Unit’ should be a place of compassion and hope and healing’.

He says ‘the evidence sadly showed that the conditions in St Lukes weren’t that’ but instead were ‘inhumane’ and ‘deprived people of dignity and respect’.