Hospital Organisation

The hospital was formed and is governed by Royal Charter in 1746. This charter has been amended three times in 1888, 1895 and 1897. The charter outlines the governance of the hospital through a board of governors consisting of both ex officio and appointed members. The board of governors are committed to maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance which is the subject of considerable Board and management time and attention to ensure our governance arrangements reflect the present and future needs of the evolving organisation.

The Governors provide their time on a voluntary basis and have overall responsibility for internal control procedures and for reviewing their effectiveness. They invest the running of the hospital in a Senior Management Team. Together with the management team, they expend significant time on improving internal controls, assessing risks that may impact on the organisation, eliminating such risks where possible and thereby ensuring the continued financial well-being and reputation of the Hospital.

We are keenly aware of and committed to our not-for-profit status and philanthropic purpose, as intended by the Hospital’s founder and laid out in its Charter .

We are committed to evidence-based service development and treatment, active participation of service users, and valuing diversity.

We are guided by the principles of Dean Swift, founder of the Hospital, and by the values of the Mental Health Act 2001, the European Charter of Human Rights and the United Nations Principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental health care.

Board of Governors

  • Mrs Caroline Preston, Chairman
  • The Hon. Mrs. Justice Susan Denham
  • The Most Rev. Michael Jackson
  • Mr. Justice Ronan Keane
  • The Very Rev. Robert MacCarthy
  • The Very Rev. Dean Dermot Dunne
  • Mr. Marcus Beresford
  • Mr. William Cotter
  • Ms. Bernie Godley
  • Dr. MyriamWalsh and
  • Professor Marcus Webb.

Senior Management Team

  • Mr Paul Gilligan, CEO
  • Prof. James Lucey, Medical Director
  • Mr Tom Maher, Director of Services
  • Mr Frank Byrne, Director of Finance
  • Mr Brendan Power, Director of HR / IT
  • Mr Nial Smith, Director of Operations