Province adds beds for psychiatric assessments

A second facility has been designated to receive defendants ordered to undergo psychiatric assessments in New Brunswick and 20 new beds are being added to the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton.

The moves were announced Thursday as the province's justice and health ministers and their two deputies appeared in provincial court in Saint John to explain why a court order hadn't been followed.

Judge William McCarroll had ordered psychiatric assessments for two accused last week, but the orders weren't followed because of a lack of space at the Restigouche centre. McCarroll was livid when he found out, and scheduled Thursday's hearing.

Justice Minister T.J. Burke, Health Minister Mike Murphy and their deputies sat on benches in McCarroll's court alongside assorted criminals and accused, waitingtheir turn while the judge dealt sternly with an impaired driver and two men charged with assault.

Burke told the judge the failure to follow his court order was a mistake and, as minister, he was responsible and would accept whatever punishment the judge felt appropriate. He joked he even brought his overnight bag in case the punishment included jail time.

"I don't think anyone deliberately ignored your order," Burke told McCarroll. "I'm willing to accept responsibility for any punishment you see fit."

The judge was told the province on Wednesday designated a second facility to do psychiatric assessments in Dorchester and would also immediately set up more bedsat the Restigouche centre, bringing the total available there for psychiatric assessments to 33.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm satisfied with your response," McCarroll told the ministers."We (judges) don't feel someone who is mentally ill should be in jail."