LATEST: Further damage forces Tipperary clinic to close just weeks after initial vandalism

Private Therapy Clinic in Nenagh has been forced to close its doors to the public and practitioners after windows previously damaged during a vandalism attack finally gave way, scattering glass across the consultation areas and rendering the premises unsafe for use.

The clinic had remained partially operational following the 7 May attack, continuing to deliver vital mental health services despite extensive damage to 20 internal windows. Since the incident, the team has carried out daily and nightly health and safety risk assessments to monitor the condition of the building and ensure that no member of the public or staff was ever at risk. This vigilance allowed the clinic to respond immediately when the compromised glass began to fall from the frames yesterday evening.

Despite only opening its Nenagh premises in early March this year, Private Therapy Clinic has already provided mental health care to 90 individuals, many of whom would otherwise have faced lengthy delays through public services. All clients were able to access appointments within the same week they reached out, with no waiting lists, offering a vital lifeline for people in urgent need of ADHD assessments, autism diagnoses, psychiatric support, or talking therapy. While it is a private clinic, the organisation works hard to keep costs affordable, often charging as little as €5 for those in financial difficulty.

“The alternatives for many of the people we’ve seen would have been to wait months, sometimes years, on overstretched government waiting lists,” said clinic founder and psychologist Dr. Becky Spelman. “We’re proud to have been able to act quickly and make care available to people when they needed it most.”

The initial attack involved unknown individuals forcibly entering the premises, smashing windows and mirrors, and damaging a pipe under the sink to deliberately cause flooding. CCTV footage reviewed by the clinic shows two men walking toward the premises without gloves one week prior to the incident, and returning later with gloves. Despite a €5,000 reward being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction, and strong support from the local community, the perpetrators have not yet been identified.

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In response to public speculation, Dr Spelman has firmly dismissed any suggestion that a client may have been responsible for the attack:

“We’ve had several people ask whether this could have been carried out by someone we were treating, and I want to be absolutely clear — no, it was not. At the time of the attack, we had not even seen our first client in the local area. While we do work with individuals across the spectrum of mental health — from mild to complex — we are highly experienced in assessing and managing risk. Clients with more complex conditions such as bipolar disorder may experience elevated moods like mania, but such individuals would not possess the calm, calculated precision it takes to break a lock the way this one was. The Gardaí have informed us that the lock was expertly tampered with using professional tools, indicating someone with experience in break-ins or lock manipulation — not someone acting impulsively or in distress.”

Dr Spelman continued:

“We’ve done everything in our power to remain open safely. Since the incident, our team has been diligent in checking the site every morning and evening to ensure that it remained safe to use. Last night, unfortunately, the windows could no longer hold and glass began to fall. At that point, we immediately closed the premises to protect everyone involved.”

Although the clinic had full public liability and contents insurance, the damage was to parts of the building deemed the landlord’s responsibility. The landlord has since confirmed that his insurance does not cover the damage, leaving the clinic – a social enterprise – unable to fund repairs independently.

“We had only been operating in Ireland for two months when this happened,” said Dr Spelman. “We’d secured a bright, central location in Nenagh with spacious consultation rooms and free parking. Clients were travelling over an hour to access our no-wait neurodiversity assessments. It’s heartbreaking to have to step back from that, even temporarily.”

Despite these challenges, Private Therapy Clinic is continuing its work from temporary spaces generously offered by other local organisations. The clinic remains committed to offering low-cost, high-quality services, including autism and ADHD assessments, psychiatry, and talking therapies.

Dr Spelman added:

“Even though we advertise sessions starting at €40, we will not turn anyone away. If someone can only afford €5, we’ll still provide support. Many of our highly skilled trainee practitioners work under the supervision of experienced clinicians. We’re doing this because we believe that mental health care should be accessible to everyone.”

Dr Spelman, who founded the service in response to her own experience of not receiving the right mental health support growing up in Ireland, said:

“This work is deeply personal to me. I know what it’s like to be left waiting, to feel overlooked. We’re determined not to let this situation stop us from helping people in need, especially in communities where services are already limited.”

Private Therapy Clinic continues to appeal for any information related to the vandalism. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Gardaí or the clinic directly. A €5,000 reward remains in place for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.