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New documentary from RTÉ Investigates reveals the psychiatric care scandal in Ireland
Families from all over Ireland tell their heartbreaking stories
Lili Lonergan
05 Feb 2026 8:07 AM
In a special two-part TV series, RTÉ Investigates examines Ireland’s mental health system and uncovers how the criminalisation of mental illness leaves families and individuals impacted and abandoned by the State.
Two decades after the Government’s landmark policy “A Vision for Change” promised a shift from large psychiatric institutions to modern, community-based care, RTÉ Investigates asks whether that transformation has truly taken place.
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Twenty years ago the State unveiled big plans for psychiatric care in Ireland. Many old wards were shut, with a plan to open specialist services instead.
“Which should have meant opening up lots of facilities, healthcare facilities. It could have been assisted living, nurses, care.
It didn’t happen.”
Without acute beds – patients with mental illness are being sent to prison.
To investigate the true extent of this, reporter Conor Ryan and producer Frank Shouldice travelled to court hearings and inquests across the country.
They spoke to the families of inmates and those working at the coal face. They pored over hundreds of first hand accounts, investigation reports and post-mortems. And they visited the prison landings that are struggling to cope.
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In the first programme this Monday night at 9.35pm, RTÉ Investigates lays bare how the criminalisation of mental illness continues to affect individuals and their families.
“These people need to be in hospital, not in jail.”
Key to the promised reform was the establishment of a brand new Central Mental Hospital in Portrane in north Dublin.
In Tuesday night’s programme, RTÉ Investigates questions whether this service has delivered the change that was promised in the face of growing waiting lists and ongoing concerns about the community services people are being discharged to.
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“He killed our son three years ago and now he’s allowed out, what’s going on?”
Watch RTÉ Investigates: The Psychiatric Care Scandal this Monday, February 9 and Tuesday 10 at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
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