NI: Health system lacks resources to deal with defendants with mental health issues
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Northern Ireland’s health system lacks the resources and facilities to deal with defendants with mental health issues, a Crown Court judge has said.
Judge Philip Babington, the Recorder of Derry, hit out at the “shambles” as he ruled on an appeal in Londonderry County Court involving a 38-year-old woman, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
Leona Devlin was sentenced to six months in jail for two acts of disorderly behaviour in an A&E department.
Barrister Stephen Chapman told the court that his client had a personality disorder for which residential treatment was available in England and Wales but not Northern Ireland.
Addressing Ms Devlin, Judge Babington conceded that there is “a lack of resources and facilities to help you on your way to resolving your issues and difficulties”.
He added: “If she was in another part of the UK, appropriate treatment would be available to her.”
The judge suspended her six-month jail sentence for two years.
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