A WOMAN has been charged in Limerick with murdering her eight-year-old son. Diane Ward (42) was brought to a special sitting of Limerick District Court yesterday evening, charged with the murder of her son Anthony at their home in Charleville.
The boy’s body was discovered by gardaí and relatives in the family home at Harrison Place, Charleville, on Monday morning.
Ms Ward – who the court heard is unemployed – was granted free legal aid.
Det Garda Sgt Michael Corbett of Mallow Garda station said he arrested Ms Ward on Tuesday at Cork University Hospital.
“I charged her today at 4.45pm. She made no reply to the charge,” he said.
A medical report on Ms Ward, carried out by consultant psychiatrist Dr Eugene Cassidy, was handed into the court.
Garda Supt Pat McCarthy, of Mallow station, said Ms Ward had been seen by Dr Cassidy on Monday and Tuesday and had been diagnosed with “a severe affective disturbance”.
Garda Supt McCarthy said Dr Cassidy – who consulted Dr Harry Kennedy of the Central Mental Hospital – had recommended that Ms Ward be remanded to the Dóchas Centre for women, attached to Mountjoy Prison, which would allow her admittance to the Central Mental Hospital, should a bed become available.
“She is unhappy to be remanded in that fashion,” solicitor Paul Cagney told the court.
“Ms Ward does not wish to attend the Central Mental Hospital.”
Ms Ward sat in silence throughout the 10-minute hearing.
Mr Cagney requested that she be remanded “in the normal fashion, and I would ask for a consultant forensic psychiatrist to examine her”.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly remanded Ms Ward to the Dóchas Centre and ordered that a consultant forensic psychiatrist examine her.
“If it is to be Prof Harry Kennedy, so be it,” the judge said.
“Having regard to the limited facilities for female prisoners, I’ll remand her in custody there,” he added. Judge O’Kelly said it was “a matter for the prison authorities” to decide if Ms Ward needed to remain at the Dóchas Centre pending the outcome of the psychiatric evaluation.
He requested that a psychiatric report be prepared for the court and that she receive “all appropriate medical attention while in custody or on remand”.
Ms Ward was remanded to appear before Newcastle West District Court next Tuesday at 10.30am.