Junior Doc on call at hospital where one patient allegedly murdered another had worked 77-hours

A psychiatric registrar at Cavan General Hospital told the Central Criminal Court that he had worked 77 hours when he was alerted to a death on the psychiatric unit on 27 June 2011. Dr Akindele Serinmade said his shift, which began on 24 June, was nearing completion when he was informed of the incident. He gave evidence that he had prescribed sleeping medication to the accused over the telephone after nursing staff reported concerns about the patient's distress and insomnia. Dr Serinmade described a brief consultation with the accused at 10.35pm on 26 June, noting that the patient's previously prescribed anti-psychotic medication had been recently discontinued. The doctor said he prescribed an alternative sleeping tablet before returning to rest. He was contacted at 6.44am the following morning to inform him of the alleged killing. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen in County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court.