A CO Donegal woman who claims she was illegally detained in a psychiatric hospital agreed at the High Court yesterday that she suffers from a psychiatric illness which requires continuing medication.
The woman was giving evidence in the continuing inquiry before Mr Justice Kelly into the legality of her detention at St Conall's psychiatric hospital, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
Yesterday, the woman said she suffered from mood swings and was first treated in a Dublin psychiatric hospital some 20 years ago. She had had 22 admissions including one involuntary admission about 20 years ago. In the past three years, she had attended Dr Carmel Gallagher at St Conall's and also had the services of a community psychiatric nurse.
She said she went voluntarily to the psychiatric services on several occasions and said her family were also very supportive towards her. She could go about her daily life with the assistance of medical attention. She agreed she was distressed when she met Dr Gallagher prior to her involuntary admission. This was because, she alleged, her daughter had assaulted her and taken money from her.
She denied she was suffering a relapse of her psychiatric illness. She agreed she had refused a request by Dr Gallagher to come to St Conall's voluntarily.
She was lifted out of her house by four gardai. She was struggling and did not want to go. She denied she was examined at St Conall's when she arrived. She was given an intramuscular injection against her will.
Cross-examined by Mr James O'Reilly SC, for the health board, the woman accepted she has a medical difficulty and that the doctors at St Conall's had her best interests in mind.
She said she had mood swings and suffered relapses of her illness. She agreed hospital admissions were likely for her in the future.
The hearing continues.
