A mother whose son tried to murder her by beating her and stabbing her repeatedly with a knife has hit out at failures in the mental health system that she said put her in an "unexpected, dangerous situation" that has left her with lifelong injuries and trauma.
A mother whose son tried to murder her by beating her and stabbing her repeatedly with a knife has hit out at failures in the mental health system that she said put her in an "unexpected, dangerous situation " that has left her with lifelong injuries and trauma.
Mary Coughlan made a statement today at a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court for her son Gearoid Coughlan (32), who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a disease that posed a risk to her safety of which she was not aware before the assault. She said she is frustrated that people with paranoid schizophrenia are allowed to live in the community without the care they need, in particular, to ensure they stick to their prescribed medication. Ms Coughlan said that a lack of communication regarding the level of risk posed by her son's disease left her in an "unexpected, dangerous situation where I endured a horrific assault that almost cost me my life and will continue to impact my life forever. The assault by my son, who I never feared before, resulted in severe injuries including a traumatic brain injury." READ MORE: Boy, 16, stabbed woman during Dublin crime spree after arranging meetings on Facebook Marketplace She said her family and Gearoid were "failed by the system" but she still hopes that he can receive care from the best experts to "pave the way for brighter futures for us al
Mother Son Murder Mental Health System Failures Dangerous Situation Injuries Trauma Schizophrenia Community Medication Assault Brain Injury