A Garda at the scene of murder at Waterford psychiatric hospital A man is expected to appear in court tomorrow in connection with the murder of a psychiatric patient who was stabbed to death on Friday night.
55 year-old Maria O'Brien was stabbed to death by a fellow patient at St. Otteran's Hospital in Waterford city at 7pm on Friday night.
It is understood there was a row and that the 35 year-old man returned with a kitchen knife and repeatedly stabbed his victim.
She tried to run away and collapsed on the grounds of the hospital and died on the way to hospital.
A staff member desperately tried to intervene and suffered slash wounds to the face. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
A second patient also tried to pull the man off Ms O’Brien and was stabbed. He is still in hospital. The incident started in a hallway and the knife is believed to have been taken from a kitchen area.
The suspect in the case is a long-term psychiatric patient who has resided at St. Otteran's for several years. He has an address in Waterford.
Maria O’Brien was from Waterford city and lived with her brother before being admitted to the hospital
A HSE spokesperson said: “The HSE wishes to offer its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased. We are offering support services to residents, their family members and staff of the unit.”
