Vol. 549 No. 1
50 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the investigation which has been held into allegations of serious physical abuse of patients at a psychiatric hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5789/02]
An independent external investigation has been established by the North-Eastern Health Board into an allegation of physical abuse of a patient in St. Brigid's Hospital, Ardee, County Louth. The Inspector of Mental Hospitals has been notified of the action taken by the health board as have the Garda Síochána, who will investigate whether a criminal offence has been committed.
I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation established by the health board by making any further comment at this time. However, I would point out to the House that, in the normal course, the outcome of such investigations is reported to the health board in question and the Inspector of Mental Hospitals is also informed.
When the report of the current investigation is available, I will be asking the Inspector of Mental Hospitals to examine the matter in full and to make any recommendations he considers appropriate arising from the findings of the investigation. The North-Eastern Health Board has also stated its intention to act on the findings.
