Almost 300 people were detained under the Mental Health Act in Tipperary in 2023

Two-hundred and ninety-three people in Tipperary were detained by gardaí under the Mental Health Act in 2023.

The figures were given as part of the Chief Superintendent’s report at a recent sitting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee.

Chief Superintendent Aileen Magner said that these are only the people the gardaí see and many more may need help.

“These are people who are in significant crisis and this is not an insignificant number,” said Chief Supt Magner.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Councillor Pat English asked Chief Supt Magner if a person in crisis is detained by gardaí, are they held in the barracks or taken to mental health facility.

Chief Supt Magner said gardaí initially take people in crisis to the garda station where they are assessed.

“It is an age-old issue that we bring them back to the station. It is not ideal,” said Chief Supt Magner.

The Tipperary garda chief said that at the station they contact a doctor and the person’s family.

Generally, she said, the gardaí in conjunction with the doctor and family, decides if and where a person in crisis is released.

She said that if a doctor determines that the person must go to hospital, the gardaí are “obliged to ensure they are admitted to a facility.” They may also be released to their family or, after a time, by themselves.

SAVING LIVES

Clonmel Garda Superintendent Alan Cullen said that it might be the case that a person would need to be taken to a facility outside the county.

Cllr English expressed concerns that might mean taking gardaí out of the station or off the streets.

Supt Cullen said if a person in crisis needs them to do that, they will.

“I’d rather have guards dealing with them at that stage rather than subsequently when things might be a lot more serious,” said Supt Cullen.

Chief Superintendent Magner said their main objective is always to “protect life.”

“These are incidents where gardaí are saving lives.

“Sometimes we are the only resource available, so we will gladly take that on,” said Chief Supt Magner

Chief Supt Magner told committee members that there is a multi-agency pilot programme in Limerick where gardaí and HSE staff attend mental health callouts “as a team.”

“Hopefully, there will be merit in it, and it will succeed when rolled out.

“It will mean progress, but in the meantime, we just have to deal with the policy and legislation that we have,” said Chief Supt Magner.