This article is from page 18 of the 2006-01-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
THE case of an Ennistymon man accused of murdering his 17-year-old sister is “one of the most complex clinical cases” ever encountered by the psychiatriast assessing the accused.
Dr Paul O’Connell made the comment at the Central Criminal Court yesterday, in relation to Patrick O’Dwyer (20), who is charged with murdering his sister Marguerite, at Shrohill, Ennistymon, on November 29, 2004.
Mr Justice Paul Carney said he was aware of the enormous trauma the case had caused, and therefore he had attempted to have it heard several times.
“Everytime we assembled in court in Ennis, your side is not prepared to go on with the case,” he told defence counsel Hugh Hartnett.
Dr O’Connell, a psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin, said he had first met the accused in December 2004, for the purpose of carrying out a forensic psychiatric examination on his mental state.
But he said he needed more time to receive the views of a number of additional experts, including one from England.
“In my professional career, it’s one of the most complex clinical cases I’ve had to deal with,” he said.
Dr O’Connell said he had sought the opinion of a consultant neurologist as well as a psychological assessment and brain scans. He hopes to have concluded his final report by June.
Mr Hartnett said the accused man’s family was anxious that he be given the appropriate psychiatric care.
Last week, at a Central Criminal Court sitting in Ennis, Mr Justice Paul Carney said he was frustrated in his efforts to bring an early hearing in the case.
He said it was his practice to give an early trial locally in cases in his court.
A date for the trial will be fixed in June.