A Moroccan who was treated in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, yesterday after he had cut his throat with a razor blade in the Four Courts is to be deported today.
Mr Mohammed Helal's cuts required stitches and other treatment, but it is understood his injuries were not significant.
He had been facing criminal charges and had previously been granted bail. But when a nolle prosequi (no prosecution) on the charges was entered by the Director of Public Prosecutions, he went back to the High Court and successfully applied to have his bail revoked.
The Minister for Justice had issued a deportation order against him last December. Around the same time he was charged in the Dublin District Court with public order offences. Bail was granted.
It is understood the decision not to prosecute was taken because the deportation order was about to be executed.
Mr Helal was consulting his lawyer in Court No 11 yesterday when the incident occurred. The judge had earlier left the bench. The prisoner was handcuffed at the time and was told that he would be deported in the morning. His reaction was to take the blade to his throat and cut himself.
An ambulance was called, and he required treatment by paramedics before being taken to the Mater. He was able to walk downstairs to the door of the building, however.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said last night that while it could not comment on individual cases, it was aware of the incident in the Four Courts. The Department understood the man's injuries were not serious, the spokesman added.