The Psychologist as Expert: Forensic Psychology

Abstract

In 1952 a joint decision was taken by the WHO and the Irish Government to introduce psychological services to the Republic of Ireland where there were no psychologists practising in the fields of health, education or social welfare. The main thrust in the Republic for the establishment of clinical psychology services came from the Department of Health which assumed the chief responsibility for funding, monitoring and developing mental health services. As a result of this, a new Child and Family service was set up by the Order of St John of God which at that time was one of the principal voluntary organisation serving the needs of mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons in Ireland. Thus the discipline of clinical psychology was introduced to the Republic of Ireland by the strategy of planning it in an already existing and culturally acceptable system of care and in the area of child and family mental health where, unlike in adult mental health services, there were few established professionals with vested interests.