Frequently asked questions
Who can instruct or refer? Solicitors (claimant, defence or joint), GPs and hospital consultants, and in workplace cases an employer's solicitor or HR department with the employee's agreement. Individuals are welcome to enquire directly; to proceed with an assessment I need a short referral from a GP or solicitor.
Do you assess adults and children? Yes. I assess adults, and children and adolescents of all ages, with a parent or guardian present for a child.
Psychologist or psychiatrist? Both can provide expert evidence on psychological injury. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and can prescribe; a clinical psychologist is trained in psychological assessment and uses standardised measures alongside interview, which gives a quantified account of severity and a formulation of cause and maintenance. My reports have been relied on in Injuries Resolution Board applications and in court. If your case may need a medication opinion as well, I will say so.
Do you take instructions from defendants and insurers? Yes. The opinion is the same whoever instructs.
Do you take medical negligence cases? Yes, on the psychological injury only, not on breach of duty. I do not take maternity, obstetric or birth-related cases.
Do you take workplace cases? Yes: psychological injury from work-related stress, bullying, harassment and traumatic incidents at work, where a claim is being made or defended. I do not carry out fitness-to-work or occupational health assessments.
Do you take criminal cases? No. My practice is confined to civil matters. I do not accept instructions in criminal proceedings, and I do not assess injuries arising from assault or other violent crime. Historical abuse and illegal adoption cases are taken where they are brought as civil claims or through redress schemes.
How long does it take? An interview slot within two to three weeks of a complete referral; the report about one week after the interview, once all records are in.
What does it cost? A single fixed fee, quoted on enquiry, including record review, testing, interview and report. Court attendance, supplementary reports and joint expert meetings are quoted in advance.
Is the assessment in person? No. It is by secure video, nationwide, with questionnaires completed online beforehand. This avoids travel and shortens waiting time.
How is the interview recorded? With the client's consent, the interview is recorded and transcribed using a GDPR-compliant service with SOC 2 Type 2 certification and EU data centres. Recordings are deleted once the report is complete and are not used to train AI.
Can you treat the client afterwards? No. I recommend evidence-based treatment and name the kind of practitioner; keeping assessment and treatment separate protects the independence of the report.
Why is there no phone number? All instructions and referrals are taken by email so that there is a written record from the first contact and nothing is lost. Emails are answered promptly, typically within 24 hours.
To instruct or refer
Email info@amckiernan.ie. Enquiries are answered promptly, typically within 24 hours.