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Irving still bound by conditions

The man who crashed his truck into a Maple Ridge sushi restaurant, killing two women and injuring six others, will be bound by a set of strict conditions for another year.

The B.C. Review Board ruled last week that Brian Craig Irving will remain out of a psychiatric hospital, but continue to be under close supervision.

Irving was released from the Colony Farm Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam on Jan. 15, 2009.

The 10 conditions re-imposed on Irving include living in a place considered appropriate by the director, likely under the supervision of his mother and brother in Cranbrook.

He will have to attend a forensic psychiatric clinic weekly and is prohibited from consuming alcohol and having weapons.

If Irving’s mental condition destabilizes, he must return to a hospital.

If there is any reason to suspect that the 55-year-old has consumed alcohol or is a danger to himself or others, he will be taken into custody and immediately returned to the psychiatric hospital.

To monitor his abstinence, the board has demanded Irving comply with random testing.

He also must keep the peace, be of good behaviour and present himself in front of the review board when called.

Irving was admitted to the psychiatric hospital in October 2008 after he was found not criminally responsible for the events of Aug. 28, 2008.

That day he drove his blue Dodge truck into Halu Sushi, killing Maija-Liisa Corbett, 19, and Hyeshim Oh, 46, as well as injuring others.

Irving was charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing death and seven counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm in relation to the crash, but pleaded not guilty by reason of a mental disorder. He testified he had no recollection of the crash or the events up to a week after.

A chronic alcoholic, Irving suffered a brain injury in January 2008 for which he required surgery.

At the time of the crash, Irving had quit drinking alcohol.

Psychiatrists hired by both defence and Crown agreed that Irving was in a delirium likely caused by withdrawal from alcohol at the time.