Our John Murphy is on the panel of Legal Representatives of the MHC (Mental Health Commission). You still hear stories of “the old days” when people were committed or “sectioned” into mental institutions then left there for a long time without any formal review procedure. Having regard to modern human rights legislation, Ireland implemented the Mental Health Act 2001 which established the Mental Health Commission and Mental Health Tribunals which are designed to review any admission orders within 21 days of the patient entering the mental health services on an involuntary basis. This affords a very good protection for persons suffering from mental health which can frequently be temporary and treatable.