Blehein v Minster for Health and Children

JurisdictionIreland
JudgeMs. Justice Mary Laffoy
Judgment Date24 August 2010
Neutral Citation[2010] IEHC 329
CourtHigh Court
Docket Number[2002 No. 9652 P]
Date24 August 2010

[2010] IEHC 329

THE HIGH COURT

[No. 9652 P/2002]
Blehein v Min for Health & Ors

BETWEEN

LOUIS BLEHEIN
PLAINTIFF

AND

THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND CHILDREN, IRELAND AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
DEFENDANTS

MENTAL TREATMENT ACT 1945 S260

BLEHEIN v MIN FOR HEALTH & ORS 2004 3 IR 610 2004/5/936 2004 IEHC 374

CONSTITUTION ART 6

CONSTITUTION ART 34

BLEHEIN v MIN FOR HEALTH & ORS 2009 1 IR 275 2008/3/594 2008 IESC 40

MENTAL HEALTH ACT 2001 S73

MENTAL TREATMENT ACT 1945 S260(1)

RSC O.25

MENTAL TREATMENT ACT 1945 S185

MENTAL TREATMENT ACT 1945 S186

BLEHEIN v MIN FOR HEALTH & ORS UNREP LAFFOY 16.3.2009 2009/5/1163 2009 IEHC 182

CONSTITUTION ART 40

CONSTITUTION ART 40.3

BLEHEIN v ST JOHN OF GOD HOSPITAL UNREP KELLY 3.11.1997 (EX TEMPORE)

BLEHEIN v ST JOHN OF GOD HOSPITAL UNREP SUPREME 20.5.1998 1999/3/389

BLEHEIN v MURPHY & ORS UNREP GEOGHEGAN 2.7.1999 1999/3/392

BLEHEIN v MURPHY & ORS 2000 3 IR 359 2000/2/626

BLEHEIN v MURPHY & ORS 2000 2 IR 231 2000 2 ILRM 481 2000/2/599

BLEHEIN v ST JOHN OF GOD HOSPITAL UNREP O'SULLIVAN 6.7.2000 2000/2/612

BLEHEIN v ST JOHN OF GOD HOSPITAL UNREP SUPREME 31.5.2002 2002/4/681

HEANEY & MCGUINNESS v IRELAND & AG 1994 3 IR 593 1994 2 ILRM 420 1994/10/3029B

MENTAL HEALTH ACT 2001 S73(1)

MENTAL HEALTH ACT 2001 S73(2)

MENTAL HEALTH ACT 2001 S73(3)

MENTAL TREATMENT ACT 1945 S260(2)

MENTAL TREATMENT ACT 1945 S260(3)

MURPHY v AG 1982 IR 241

AN BLASCAOD MOR TEORANTA & ORS v CMRS OF PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND & ORS (NO 4) 2000 3 IR 565 2001 1 ILRM 423 2000/2/558

REDMOND v MIN FOR ENVIRONMENT & ORS (NO 2) 2006 3 IR 1 2004/44/10023 2004 IEHC 24

K (D) v JUDGE CROWLEY & ORS UNREP ABBOTT 29.7.2005 2006/30/6473 2005 IEHC 375

KEATING v JUDGE CROWLEY & ORS UNREP SUPREME 12.5.2010 2010 IESC 29

K (D) v JUDGE CROWLEY & ORS 2002 2 IR 744 2001/15/4309

MCDONNELL v IRELAND & ORS 1998 1 IR 134

CONSTITUTION ART 41.3

CONSTITUTION ART 40.1

INCOME TAX ACT 1967

HAUGHEY, IN RE 1971 IR 217

AN BLASCAOD MOR NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK ACT 1989

AN BLASCAOD MOR TEORANTA & ORS v CMRS OF PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND & ORS (NO 3) 2000 1 IR 6 2000 1 ILRM 401 1999/1/72

MESKELL v CORAS IOMPAIR EIREANN 1973 IR 121

PINE VALLEY DEVELOPMENTS LTD & ORS v MIN FOR ENVIRONMENT & ORS 1987 IR 23 1987 ILRM 747

BYRNE v IRELAND & AG 1972 IR 241

HOGAN & WHYTE JM KELLY: THE IRISH CONSTITUTION 4ED 2003 PARA 4.2.90

HOGAN & WHYTE JM KELLY: THE IRISH CONSTITUTION 4ED 2003 PARA 8.2.73

HOGAN & WHYTE JM KELLY: THE IRISH CONSTITUTION 4ED 2003 PARA 8.2.74

ELECTORAL ACT 1992

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS ACT 1997

REDMOND v MIN FOR ENVIRONMENT & ORS 2001 4 IR 61 2001/21/5654

D (T) & ORS v MIN FOR EDUCATION & ORS 2001 4 IR 259 2001/5/1050

KING & ORS v MIN FOR ENVIRONMENT & ORS (NO 2) 2007 1 IR 296 2006/32/6923 2006 IESC 61

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 1996 S4(3)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 1996 S4(1)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 1996 S4(2)

OFFENCES AGAINST THE STATE ACT 1939 S34

COX v IRELAND & ORS 1992 2 IR 503

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS 1957 S11(2)

CONSTITUTION ART 34.4

CLARKE, IN RE 1950 IR 235

CROKE v SMITH & ORS (NO 2) 1998 1 IR 101 1996/9/2829

A v GOVERNOR OF ARBOUR HILL PRISON 2006 4 IR 88

O'DOWD v NORTH WESTERN HEALTH BOARD 1983 ILRM 186

MURPHY v GREENE 1990 2 IR 566 1991 ILRM 404 1991 ILT 146 1990/10/2793

HOGAN & WHYTE JM KELLY: THE IRISH CONSTITUTION 4ED 2003 PARA 8.2.69

KEARNEY v MIN FOR JUSTICE & ORS 1986 IR 116 1987 ILRM 52 1986/3/1017

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (AMDT) ACT 1991 S3(1)

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Jurisdiction

Legislation - Personal rights - Damages - Unconstitutionality of Act - Liability of State - Transcendent considerations - Common good - Importance of concrete factual context - Statute of limitations - Action re breach of personal constitutional rights - Access to courts - Jurisdiction of courts to order redress against State for breach of constitutional rights where Act found to be unconstitutional - Difficulties re âÇÿunscrambling the egg' of acts done under legislation later found to be unconstitutional - Factors re imposing liability upon State - Constitutional invalidity of s 260 Mental Treatment Act 1945 - Leave of High Court required to bring proceedings - Whether Plaintiff would have succeeded in actions if had been granted leave to bring proceedings under s 260 - Blehein v Minister for Health [2004] IEHC 374, [2008] IESC 40, [2004] 3 IR 610, [2009] 1 IR 275, Heaney v Ireland [1994] 3 IR 593, Murphy v Attorney General [1982] IR 241, An Blascaod Mór Teo v Commissioners of Public Works (No 4) [2000] 3 IR 565, Redmond v Minister for Environment (No 2) [2004] IEHC 24, [2006] 3 IR 1, DK v Crowley [2002] 2 IR 74, McDonnell v Ireland [1998] 1 IR 134, Re Haughey [1971] IR 217, An Blascaod Mór Teo v Commissioners of Public Works (No 3) [2000] 1 IR 6, Meskell v Coras Iompair Éireann [1973] IR 121, Pine Valley Developments Ltd v Minister for Environment [1987] IR 23, Byrne v Ireland [1972] IR 241, Redmond v Minister for Environment (No 1) [2001] 4 IR 61, TD v Minister for Education [2001] 4 IR 259, King v Minister for Environment [2006] IESC 61, [2007] 1 IR 296, Cox v Ireland [1992] IR 53, Re Philip Clarke [1950] IR 235, Croke v Smith (No 2) [1998] 1 IR 101, A v Governor of Arbour Hill Prison [2006] IESC 45, [2006] 4 IR 88, O'Dowd v North Western Health Board [1983] ILRM 186, Murphy v Green [1990] 2 IR 566, Blehein v Murphy (No 2) [2000] 3 IR 359, Blehein v Murphy [2000] 2 IR 231, [2000] 2 ILRM 481, and Kearney v Minister for Justice [1986] IR 116 considered; Keating v Crowley [2010] IESC 29, (Unrep, SC, 12/5/2010) applied - Mental Treatment Act 1945 s 260 [Act repealed by Mental Health Act 2001] - Mental Health Act 2001, s 73 - Statute of Limitations 1957 (No 6 ), s 11 (2), as amended by Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991, (No 18), s 3 - Constitution of Ireland 1937, arts 6, 34, and 40 - Determination postponed pending consideration of application of Statute of Limitations (2002/9652P - Laffoy J - 24/8/2010) [2010] IEHC 329

Blehein v Minister for Health and Children, Ireland and Attorney General

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Personal rights

Constitutional law - Right to redress - Statute - Invalidity - Right to damages for breach of constitutional rights - Unconstitutionality of legislation - Impact upon citizen of invalidity of legislation - Whether plaintiff entitled to damages for alleged breach of constitutional rights - Factors to consider - Whether transcendent considerations applicable regarding award of redress for alleged breach of constitutional rights - Whether claim statute-barred - Importance of bed of facts - Whether matter could be determined in absence of concrete factual matrix - Whether preferable to decide Statute of Limitations point prior to availability of redress point - A v Governor of Arbour Hill Prison [2006] IESC 45, [2006] 4 IR 88; An Blascaod Mór Teo v Commissioners of Public Works (No 3) [2000] 1 I.R. 6; An Blascaod Mór Teo v Commissioners of Public Works (No 4) [2000] 3 I.R. 565; Blehein v Minister for Health [2004] IEHC 374, [2004] 3 I.R. 610; Blehein v Minister for Health [2008] IESC 40, [2009] 1 IR 275; Blehein v Minister for Health [2009] IEHC 182, (Unrep, Laffoy J, 16/3/2009); Blehein v Murphy [2000] 2 I.R. 231; Blehein v Murphy (No 2) [2000] 3 IR 359; Blehein v St. John of God Hospital (Unrep, O'Sullivan J, 6/7/2000); Blehein v St. John of God Hospital (Unrep, SC, 31/5/2002); Byrne v Ireland [1972] IR 241; In re Philip Clarke [1950] IR 235; Cox v Ireland [1992] IR 503; Croke v Smith (No 2) [1998] 1 IR 101; TD v Minister for Education [2001] 4 IR 259; DK v Crowley [2002] 2 IR 74; DK v Crowley [2005] IEHC 375, (Unrep, Abbott J, 29/7/2005); In re Haughey [1971] IR 217; Heaney v Ireland [1994] 3 IR 593; Kearney v Minister for Justice [1986] IR 116; Keating v Crowley [2010] IESC 29, [2010] 3 IR 648; King v Minister for Environment (No 2) [2006] IESC 61, [2007] 1 IR 296; McDonnell v Ireland [1998] 1 IR 134; Meskell v Coras Iompair Éireann [1973] IR 121; Murphy v Attorney General [1982] IR 241; Murphy v Greene [1990] 2 IR 566; O'Dowd v North Western Health Board [1983] ILRM 186; Pine Valley Developments Ltd v Minister for the Environment [1987] IR 23; Redmond v Minister for the Environment [2001] 4 IR 61 and Redmond v Minister for the Environment (No 2) [2006] IEHC 24, [2006] 3 IR 1 considered - Mental Treatment Act 1945 (No 19), s 260 - Constitution of Ireland 1937, Articles 6, 34, and 40 - Finding that application of Statute of Limitations should be addressed first (2002/9652P - Laffoy J - 24/8/2010) [2010] IEHC 329

Blehein v Minister for Health

Facts section 260(1) of the Mental Health Treatment Act 1945 provides, inter alia, that "No civil proceedings shall be instituted in respect of an act purporting to have been done in pursuance of this Act save by leave of the High Court and such leave shall not be granted unless the High Court is satisfied that there are substantial grounds for contending that the person against whom the proceedings are to be brought acted in bad faith or without reasonable care." It had been previously found by the Superior Courts that section 260 of the Act of 1945 was unconstitutional and had infringed the plaintiff's personal constitutional rights. He had previously been prevented from bringing separate litigation in relation to his involuntary detention under the Act of 1945 as a result of the application of section 260. It had been agreed between the parties therein that all matters other than the validity of section 260, including as to any potential entitlement to damages therefor that the plaintiff may have, should be left over. He then re-entered the matter alleging, inter alia, that that breach as so found had caused him damage and loss and sought damages for infringement of constitutional rights, for personal injury, loss and damage. He...

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3 cases
  • Blehein v The Minister for Health and Others
    • Ireland
    • High Court
    • 26 Junio 2013
    ...Judgment of Ms. Justice Laffoy delivered on 26th day of June, 2013. 1 The 2010 judgment 2 1. In my judgment (under neutral citation [2010] IEHC 329) in this matter delivered on 24th August, 2010 (the 2010 judgment), I outlined the nature and procedural history of the proceedings and the iss......
  • Blehein v Minister for Health Children
    • Ireland
    • Supreme Court
    • 31 Julio 2018
    ...followed the nomenclature used by Laffoy J. in the judgment under appeal (para. 6 above) and also in an earlier judgment of hers in 2010 [2010] IEHC 329, which is also relevant (para. 17 infra). 11 In addition and for completeness it should be noted that, there were proceedings earlier tha......
  • V.K. v M.W.
    • Ireland
    • Court of Appeal (Ireland)
    • 9 Febrero 2018
    ...such a duty in the absence of malice: cases cited are Lockwood v Ireland [2011] 1 IR 374; Smyth v Commissioner of An Garda Siochana [2014] 2 IR 1; Kelly v Commissioner of An Garda Siochana [2015] IEHC 19. The High Court was correct to conclude that Mr. K's complaints in regard to Garda BW a......

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