THE PRACTICE of routinely ordering expensive psychiatric reports on behalf of convicted criminals is a “disgrace”, a Circuit Court judge has said.
A second Circuit Court judge has also threatened to refuse certification for any psychiatric reports paid for under the legal aid scheme which he finds to be “premature and unnecessary”.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard a psychiatric report costing €3,800 was ordered for Stephen Mangan (35), Primrose Gardens, Darndale, who was convicted of defrauding a man of €380 on eBay and using a computer to make false documents. The cost of the report included one psychiatric assessment session with the man and this was paid for by the State.
Judge Frank O’Donnell said the report was of no use to him in deciding a sentence. “These reports are being ordered like confetti at a wedding,” he added.
Judge Desmond Hogan yesterday also spoke against the practice of “prematurely” ordering psychiatric reports which are paid for under the legal aid scheme.