Cobh man assessed by at least four psychiatrists in 18 months

A Co Cork man who took his own life after fatally stabbing his wife and seriously injuring his daughter this week had been assessed by at least four psychiatrists over an 18-month period, The Irish Times has learned.

Michael Greaney (53) from Cobh was under the continuous care of a psychiatrist and a multidisciplinary team as an outpatient.

He was first assessed by a psychiatrist in Cork in May 2013 regarding his fitness to be interviewed by gardaí following an incident which led to him being charged with assault causing harm and false imprisonment. There was concern for Mr Greaney's wellbeing as he had attempted to take his own life following the incident. He was then referred to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin where he was assessed by a second psychiatrist during his first period of detention there from May 12th to June 27th, 2013.

Following a trial

Mr Greaney, who killed his wife Valerie and wounded his daughter Michelle at the family home in Cobh on Sunday, was sent back to the Central Mental Hospital for a second time on February 25th, 2014, after he was acquitted following a trial at Cork Circuit

Criminal Court

.

He had been found not guilty by reason of insanity of assault causing harm and false imprisonment arising out of an incident on May 9th, 2013. During his trial, the jury heard he had been assessed by psychiatrists for both the prosecution and the defence. Following Mr Greaney’s acquittal by reason of insanity, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin remanded him to the Central Mental Hospital for further assessment for a period of two weeks in accordance with the terms of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006.

He was back in court on March 11th and remanded to appear again on March 21st when another report was presented by a Central Mental Hospital psychiatrist. This found Mr Greaney suffered from a recurrent depressive disorder which fell within the terms of a mental disorder as defined by the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The Irish Times understands this report by the Central Mental Hospital psychiatrist was one of a number available to Judge Ó Donnabháin.

Obey all directions

The judge discharged Mr Greaney from court after he gave an undertaking not to reside at the family home and to remain under the care and obey all directions of his consultant psychiatrist, thus ending his involvement with the Central Mental Hospital.

On October 29th, Mr Greaney applied to have the restriction preventing him from living at home lifted and Judge Ó Donnabháin granted the application on foot of a medical report from the psychiatrist treating Mr Greaney.

The judge was told the psychiatrist believed Mr Greaney no longer posed any risk to his family and returning home would be beneficial to his mental health.