A woman (44) with Schizoaffective disorder who is unfit to stand trial for a 2014 murder has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital.
Mercy Peters, originally from Sierra Leone, is charged with murdering Tyrone McKenna (42) on July 17th, 2014 at the house they had shared in Marley Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
Last week at the Central Criminal Court Mr Justice Tony Hunt found her unfit to stand trial as a result of hearing evidence from two consultant psychiatrists that Ms Peters is suffering from Schizoaffective disorder .
The court previously heard the former journalist had not taken her prescribed medication for several months before the event occurred and that her illness involves entrenched persecutory and delusional themes.
Prosecution counsel Mr Paul Burns on Friday called Dr Ronan Mullaney, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH), to give evidence.
Dr Mullaney said he is Ms Peters’s doctor at the CMH and that he assessed her on July 18th, 2017, for preparation of a report.
He said Ms Peters has maintained for some time that she is not responsible for Mr McKenna’s death and she continues to believe that she is the victim of an “elaborate plot” against her.
He said that Ms Peters has only partial insight into her illness and continues to dispute her diagnosis. She does not believe she suffers with delusions, the court heard.
Dr Mullaney said that Ms Peters suffers from Schizoaffective disorder and while she is no longer “acutely manic”, she continues to present with persecutory delusions.
Schizoaffective disorder is a mental disorder, and so Ms Peters would be unable to instruct a legal representative and conduct a proper defence, he said.
Dr Mullaney recommended to the court that Ms Peters be committed to the CMH and he confirmed that there was a bed available for her there.
The witness agreed with Ms Fiona Murphy BL, defending, it was not realistic that Ms Peters would be back before the court in the near future and the remand was indefinite.
Mr Justice Hunt said he was satisfied that Ms Peters is suffering from a mental disorder, and he made an order committing her to the CMH for inpatient care.
The judge adjourned proceedings until October 2nd.