A 16-year-old girl who displayed suicidal tendencies was initially denied access to psychiatric services because of a dispute over whether she should be assessed by adult or child services, the High Court has heard.
The girl, who was assessed after court proceedings were threatened, is being detained at a secure unit outside Dublin on foot of a High Court order on grounds she is at risk of self-harm. The girl was taken to an emergency unit at 1pm last Friday for assessment by adult psychiatric services but was refused assessment on the basis she is 16 and should be assessed by child services. She was assessed about 7pm that evening by a psychiatrist attached to child services after High Court proceedings were threatened, said Catherine Ghent, solicitor for the teen’s court-appointed guardian.
Felix McEnroy SC, for the Health Service Executive, said the court would be furnished with a report outlining details of mental health services for the girl. Mr Justice George Birmingham adjourned the matter to later this week.