Seamus Marrinan, Blackfort, Castlebar, was remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison by Judge Mary Devins, to appear before the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court.
During Wednesday’s sitting of Castlebar District Court, Inspector Martin Byrne told the court that a report from the Central Mental Hospital, where the defendant had been in remand since July, to assess whether Marrinan was fit to plead, was not available. However defending solicitor Aidan Crowley said that notification was received from the centre via a social worker, that the defendant, who was present, was fit to attend court.
Judge Devins said it was a “very unsatisfactory situation” and remanded Marrinan in custody to appear before the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court (the date of which was not available at Wednesday’s sitting ), where it would be decided if the defendant was fit to plead.
The judge said that in Castlerea, if it was deemed that Marrinan needed further assessment and treatment in the Central Mental Hospital, the governor of the prison should act upon this.
Marrinan is charged with stabbing his mother Carmel in the family home in Castlebar on July 7.
