Man charged with murder of Cavan hospital patient
A general labourer charged with murdering a pensioner in a psychiatric hospital told detectives he killed him.
Ian Harmon, 47, from Carrigallen, Mountain Lodge, Cootehill, Co Cavan, was arrested last night over the death of 82-year-old Michael Treanor at Cavan General Hospital.
An investigating Garda sergeant told Cavan District Court that he charged Mr Harmon, a married father of one, at 10.54pm for the murder of the patient.
Sergeant Seamus Green said that, when cautioned, Mr Harmon replied: “Yes, I did it. I’ve given statements that I done it.”
The accused and the dead man were patients in the psychiatric unit.
Harmon was dressed in a blue hooded top, navy tracksuit bottoms, a grey T-shirt and white trainers and flanked by two gardai during the brief hearing.
Judge Sean McBride remanded the accused in custody at Castlerea Prison to appear before Virginia District Court next Tuesday.
After an application from his solicitor, Judge McBride recommended the defendant be transferred to Cloverhill Prison in Dublin for an urgent medical and psychiatric examination and assessment.
The killing occurred yesterday in the Cavan-Monaghan Mental Health Acute Inpatient Unit in Cavan General Hospital.
