Irish murder trial delays due to voluntary and limited psychiatric reports for defendants.
Murder trial delays in Ireland are occurring due to difficulties in obtaining psychiatric reports for defendants. HSE-employed psychiatrists are not legally obligated to provide assessments for criminal cases, and the system works on a voluntary basis with no definitive panel of psychiatrists available for defense lawyers. This has caused a backlog in reports, creating an imbalance between the number of psychiatrists willing to work for the defense and those working for state prosecutors. Issues with fees, limited approved hours, and disincentives for psychiatrists further exacerbate the situation.
March 06, 2024
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