Mentally ill man living in ‘squalor’ to be moved to hospital

A mentally-ill man who is living in “extraordinary squalor” in a damp, cold and dirty cottage in a significant state of disrepair is to be moved to hospital by court order.

The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly, said he was grateful that a community services worker, a consultant psychiatrist and a community services organisation had all written to the wards of court office to alert it to the man’s plight.

The man, aged in his sixties, has a mental illness, a learning disability and is unable to self care or function as an independent adult, he said.

Because he was shocked by the contents of that letter, which he saw earlier this week, he had listed the matter for urgent attention and was grateful for the speedy response from the relevant agencies, the judge said.

The man is a ward of court and a relative was previously appointed as the committee to represent his interests, he said. Because she lives out of the jurisdiction, she may have been unaware of the exact situation but she had written last October setting out matters which were drawn to his attention this week, he said.

The living conditions of the man are “appalling” and did not arise overnight, he said. He was living in “extraordinary squalor” in a small cottage.

While the man gets some assistance with personal care from a neighbour, his behaviour has created difficulties with other neighbours, the judge said.

His cottage was in a significant state of disrepair, there was no source of heat except for an open fire but even that was no longer available because of a chimney fire, meaning the man stays in bed much of the time in an effort to be warm.

The back door was in a state of disrepair and cannot keep out wind and rain, parts of the floor are rotting, the house is extremely dirty with rubbish and other material all over the house and mice droppings in the kitchen, he added. There was exposed wiring and no smoke or carbon dioxide alarm.

An environmenal health officer had said the cottage was not suitable for the needs of the occupant, he added.

In the circumstances, he was making orders, by agreement of the relevant parties, for the man’s removal to a hospital, which is an approved centre under the Mental Health Acts, and ancillary orders providing for his deention there and for all appropriate treatments to be administered.

He would review the matter later next month when he wanted reports on the man’s up to date circumstances, he added.