The High Court has ruled that the continuing detention of a woman in a Co Donegal psychiatric hospital is lawful and in accordance with the provisions of the Mental Treatment Act. Mr Justice Kelly yesterday dismissed claims by the woman's brother that her detention at St Conall's psychiatric hospital, Letterkenny, was unlawful.
He also noted that allegations by the brother regarding the woman's treatment there, and in particular claims that the hospital was akin to a "torture chamber", were not proceeded with when lawyers came into the case. He said there was no evidence to back them up and were made "irresponsibly".
Ms Ann Power, for the North Western Health Board, applied for costs of the inquiry against the brother. The judge ordered that the brother pay one-third of the legal costs.