Son of 92-year-old patient fails in High Court bid to stop St James's Hospital discharge
A 92-year-old patient who required a hoist to get in and out of bed and was confined to a wheelchair had been in St James's Hospital, Dublin, for eight months since August 2024, and his son sought a High Court injunction to prevent the hospital from discharging him. On 16 April 2025, Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger refused the application, noting that 36 acute patients were waiting for admission while the patient occupied a bed. On the same day, landlord-turned-screenwriter Christian Carter's bid to use civil restraining order laws to prevent Irish Independent journalist Amy Molloy from writing about him was dismissed by Judge Anthony Halpin in Dublin District Court. Carter was ordered to pay €10,000 in legal costs to Mediahuis, following a short-term civil restraining order granted on 9 April 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Apr
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 92-year-old patient who required a hoist to get in and out of bed and was confined to a wheelchair had been in St James's Hospital, Dublin, for eight months since August 2024.
- The patient's son applied to the High Court for an injunction to prevent the hospital from discharging his father until a care home could be found.
- The hospital stated that 36 acute patients were waiting for admission, and the patient's discharge had been postponed due to a hospital-acquired infection.
- The patient had been abused in an orphanage, received compensation from the Redress Board, was on a waiting list for a care home, and his son did not have power of attorney.
- Landlord-turned-screenwriter Christian Carter, featured in a 2017 RTÉ Investigates broadcast called Nightmare to Let, sought a civil restraining order to prevent Irish Independent journalist Amy Molloy from writing about him.
- Carter claimed Molloy wrote 50 articles about him since 2017, while Molloy said she wrote 17 or 18 pieces concerning RTB, a council, and Revenue.
- In court
- On 16 April 2025, Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger refused the application for an injunction in the High Court.
- On 16 April 2025, Judge Anthony Halpin in Dublin District Court dismissed Carter's civil restraining order application, finding the law was being misused to restrict publication.
- Carter was ordered to pay €10,000 in legal costs to Mediahuis, and the Circuit Court had previously ordered him to pay €20,000 to some of his tenants.
- Carter was granted a short-term civil restraining order on 9 April 2025, and Ronan Lupton SC represented the newspaper and the reporter.
- Other details
- The order to permit naming of the parties was lifted, though no parties may be identified by order of the court.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCarter is described as a landlord-turned-screenwriter who earned a law degree and worked in arbitration. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarter claimed Molloy wrote 50 articles about him since 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMolloy said she wrote 17 or 18 pieces about Carter concerning RTB, a council, and Revenue. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA Cabinteely property was alleged to have had 70 tenants. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarter claimed the property was a 6,000 sq ft 25-roomed mansion with 40 tenants. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarter was featured in a 2017 RTÉ Investigates broadcast called Nightmare to Let. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCarter's sister is award-winning businesswoman Melissa Carter. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe patient required a hoist to get in and out of bed and was confined to a wheelchair (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe patient's discharge was postponed due to a hospital-acquired infection (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe patient had been in hospital for eight months since August 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- courtCarter was ordered to pay €10,000 in legal costs to Mediahuis. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe order to permit naming of the parties was lifted. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Circuit Court ordered Carter to pay €20,000 to some of his tenants. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCarter was granted a short-term civil restraining order on 9 April. (irishtimes.com)
- courtRonan Lupton SC represented the newspaper and the reporter. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Marguerite Bolger refused the application for an injunction (irishtimes.com)
- courtNo parties may be identified by order of the court (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe patient had been abused in an orphanage and received compensation from the Redress Board (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe patient was on a waiting list for a care home (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe patient's son did not have power of attorney (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Apr2025Son of 92-year-old patient fails in bid for court to order hospital to detain father until family can find care home
Reports the High Court's refusal of an injunction sought by the patient's son to prevent St James's Hospital from discharging a 92-year-old patient who had been in hospital for eight months.
victim, 92, male - 16 Apr2025Court rejects landlord-turned-screenwriter’s bid to use stalking laws to ‘silence’ journalist
Reports the Dublin District Court ruling dismissing Carter's civil restraining order application against journalist Amy Molloy, with the judge finding the law was being misused to restrict publication.
victim, Christian Carter, male, irish (judged from name)Christian Cartersuspect, Amy Molloy, female, named, irish (judged from name)Amy Molloy