Since I entered politics this is the saddest case I have had to deal with. The person concerned, Kevin Moloney, was unconscious for 14 weeks in Beaumont Hospital following a road traffic accident on 11 August 1991. In December that year he was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Centre, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin where he remained until June the following year. His initial response was poor. He was disoriented and had no sense of time, place or of his physical or mental state.
When he returned to County Mayo, family members living away from home came in turn to try to help him. He became content, began to walk and, within a period of about one year, could meet his personal and hygiene needs under supervision.
As his 75 year old father was the only relative living at home and other family members had to return to their places of employment in England, it was necessary to find a place for him. In 1993 he was assessed by a neuro-surgeon who recommended a facility that ran a programme with activities related to his life before the accident. To this end he was placed by the National Rehabilitation Institute in the National Horticultural Centre, Bantry, County Cork where he will remain until July. This means a trip of over 200 miles for his father who cried in my arms when he came to see me in my clinic a few weeks ago. He asked how he could be expected as an old man of 75 years of age to travel up and down from Cork to see his son. He said he would die without seeing him.
I have seen the reply prepared by the civil servants. We would like the person concerned to be transferred to Swinford or, if this is not possible, to Castlebar or some location in County Galway. Glenamoy is almost 70 miles from Ballina and over 200 miles from west Cork. A Bill was presented to enable Irish prisoners in England to be transferred here so that they can be near their families. We are aware of their awful deeds. The young man concerned was involved in a tragic accident in which he sustained head injuries. He has received no compensation.
I ask the Minister of State not to give me the typical Civil Service answer. I intend to raise this matter at every opportunity until the person concerned is transferred to County Mayo or, if this is not possible, to some location in Connacht so that he can be close to his father. This is not too much to ask. I will not accept the excuse that to be placed in Swinford one has to be mentally handicapped from birth. The surgeons, doctors and professional people accept that he needs full-time care and have provided the necessary references. I plead with the Minister of State to give a positive response.
