A 22-year-old Ballina man with a history of psychiatric problems entered the home of two elderly patients who are under the care of the health service, where he pretended to be a psychiatric nurse and administered drugs to a 62-year-old man. He also on the following day locked the man and a 60-year-old woman in their sitting room.
It was heard at Ballina District Court this week that on December 2 2008, Alan Cawley, 5 Barrett Street, Ballina went to a residence in Kilemoremoy, Ballina and entered the home of John Newcombe and Phyllis Maughan under the pretence that he was a nurse from the hospital of which the two elderly people were patients. Cawley administered four tablets to Mr Newcombe and also wrote him a prescription. Mr Newcombe went into a deep sleep and did not wake until the next day.
On December 3, Cawley returned to the home with three bottles of wine. After entering the house he placed Ms Maughan’s handbag down the cistern of the toilet and locked the two residents in the sitting room for 10 to 15 minutes before they were let out and the defendant left the house. Solicitor John Gordon said that Cawley pleaded guilty to the poisoning charge.
Mr Gordon said that his client has a long history of psychiatric illness, which through various diagnoses is still not conclusive and, as his condition has not been fully diagnosed, the right medication for him has not been found. The solicitor said that the defendant is addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol — Cawley took an overdose of his medication and vodka the day before he committed the offence. Mr Gordon said that Cawley knew the injured parties as they were all receiving treatment in the same place and the medication which he gave to Mr Newcombe was his own medication.
Since the incident Cawley has stayed out of trouble and in May this year joined a Buddhist Monastery in Fermanagh where he stayed until he was asked to leave in September. He is now living with his 69-year-old grandmother. Cawley has one previous conviction for criminal damage.
Judge Mary Devins said that there is “obviously something fundamentally wrong” with this man and adjourned the matter for mention to the next court sitting to see the dates which a psychiatrist will be available to come to court in relation to the mental status of Cawley.
