The jury in the trial of the Stephen Silver for the murder of Colm Horkan has heard the accused's mental health relapses were the result of him ceasing his medication and taking intoxicants.
The 46-year-old bike mechanic from Foxford in Mayo was committed or voluntarily attended psychological units 17 times over the course of 20 years.
Mr Silver has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Colm Horkan by reason of diminished responsibility but has denied a charge of capital murder.
Professor Henry Kennedy, former Clinical Director of forensic Psychiatry at the Central Mental Hospital, told the court he interviewed Stephen Silver over the course of four months earlier this year. The professor stated that Mr Silver had been prescribed several anti-psychotics and mood stabilisers after discharge from various psychiatric units between 1999 and 2019 and he confirmed that despite warnings from consultants treating him, Stephen Silver had ceased his medications almost immediately following several instances of treatment. Doctor's notes from the treating consultants included in the professor's report, show Mr Silver had been warned that in order to stay well, he must continue his medication and abstain from drugs and alcohol. When asked in his third interview if anyone had told him the reason he kept becoming ill was because of his refusal to stay medicated, he said they had not, and that his wife hadn't 'as she didn't want to rock the boat because I was so anti medication.'
Professor Kennedy stated that it was a consistent pattern of stopping medication and taking intoxicants that resulted in Mr Silver's relapses, many of which, he says, led to confrontations with Gardaí.
Evidence in the trial continues tomorrow.
