Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2399Murder

Judge threatens to summon Midlands Prison governor over denial of psychiatrist access to murder trial prisoner

Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court threatened to direct the governor of Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, to appear in court to explain why a UK-based psychiatrist hired by the defence was twice denied access to an unnamed male prisoner awaiting trial for murder. The judge asked to be updated on 7 March 2025 on whether a newly scheduled consultation had taken place.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
6 statements extracted from the articles
  • courtMr Justice Paul McDermott threatened to bring the governor of Midlands Prison before the Central Criminal Court to explain the denial of access (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge asked to be updated on 7 March 2025 and directed that if the consultation had not been facilitated, the governor of Midlands Prison would be directed to come to court (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe defence team secured a psychiatrist from the UK who twice travelled to Midlands Prison to meet the prisoner (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOn both occasions the psychiatrist was left waiting and the meeting was cancelled by the prison without explanation (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe defence wants the prisoner assessed to establish whether he has a defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMr Justice McDermott noted that insufficient psychiatric services in Ireland are forcing lawyers to look outside the State for expert reports (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Feb2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Judge questions why prisoner awaiting murder trial denied access to psychiatrist

    Reports a procedural dispute in an unnamed prisoner's murder trial: the defence's UK psychiatrist was twice turned away at Midlands Prison without explanation, and the judge set a 7 March deadline before summoning the prison governor.

    accused, male