http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/vulnerable-mute-eritrean-man-made-a-ward-of-court-1.2858491
Vulnerable mute Eritrean man made a ward of court
Man had been found confused and wandering alone on Meath road
Mon, Nov 7, 2016, 20:05
Mary Carolan
Mr Justice Peter Kelly: said it was not appropriate for the man to
remain in an acute hospital when he had no acute illness. Photograph:
Aidan Crawley
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A vulnerable young African man who was mute for five years and has
been detained in hospital for more than a year after being found by
gardaí wandering alone in a confused state on a road in Co Meath has
been made a ward of court.
President of the High Court Mr Justice Peter Kelly also agreed to
transfer the man from his current placement in an acute hospital ward
to be detained in a rehabilitation centre.
Sarah McKechnie, for the hospital, told the judge this was a “most
unusual” case and the medical evidence indicated the man needed the
protection of the court. The man appeared to have no family here and
medical staff believed it was not appropriate to keep him in a medical
setting. While he appeared to have an acquired brain injury, he did
not require medical treatment, she said. He had been assessed as of
unsound mind and incapable of managing his own affairs.
Mr Justice Kelly said it was not appropriate for the man to remain in
an acute hospital when he had no acute illness and he would make the
orders sought. This was an “unfortunate young man” who appeared to
have been mute for five years and had cognitive and self-care
deficits, he observed.
Noting that the Office of the Refugee Application Commissioner had
asked to be kept informed of the man’s situation, the judge said there
was little indication the man would be in a position to be interviewed
in connection with an application for refugee status.
The man, aged in his 20s and believed to have come from Eritrea,
sought asylum in early July 2015 at a refugee accommodation centre in
Co Dublin. He presented with a piece of paper with details of his
name, country of origin and language and the words: “I am not normal
mental” on it.
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Arising from that, he was entered on the records of the office but it
was unable to process his application pending medical assessment.
About a week after he presented at the accommodation centre, he was
found by gardaí wandering alone on a road in Co Meath in a confused
state. They took him to hospital where he remained until Monday’s
court proceedings.
Medical assessments expressed the view he suffered from an
intellectual disability or had acquired a brain injury at some point
in his life. He also required prompting to deal with personal care
activities such as washing, dressing and eating.
According to information supplied from some family members abroad, the
man suffered a head injury in his teens as a result of an accident and
later spent time in the Eritrean army, during which his mental health
deteriorated.
He was mute for five years as a result of which it was considered he
would have long-standing language difficulties and his primary
language remained unidentified.
Received on Sat Nov 12 2016 - 15:20:57 EST