Mac Mini login GUI not responding (but SSH access OK)

I have an ongoing intermittant issue with my Mac Mini (running Lion).
I can see the login GUI but can't login!  Sometimes the mouse pointer moves in response to my trackpad motions but the "click" doesn't respond when I try it. Generally the keyboard doesn't seem to respond (but pressing "enter" does wake-up the screen).
I have the problem at the moment and have managed to actually enter 3 characters of my password, but now it's not responding.
VNC access is enabled and if I connect via that method the results are exactly the same (so it's not an issue with my actual/physical keyboard or mouse).
I have enabled SSH access and I can login via this method so the system is still responding.  I have run "top" from the SSH session and no particular process seems to be "hogging" the system.
So I am at a loss as what to do.
I would appreciate any advice on how to fault-find this via the SSH session.

In System Preferences>Accounts, unlock the lock, click the little + icon & add a new Admin user, log into that account & see if it works.
While in Safe mode/boot, in System Preferences>Accounts, unlock the lock, click the little + icon & add a new Admin user, log into that account & see if it works if you set the new user to Automatically login.

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