Husband of missing woman angry at hospital

THE husband of a missing mother-of-three said he will formally express his concern to the health authorities at the ease at which his wife was able to walk out of a psychiatric ward.

However, an emotional Patrick Dorney said his first priority was to find his 37-year-old wife, Patricia, and yesterday appealed for the public’s help in locating her.

Ms Dorney, who is suffering from depression, voluntarily booked herself into Cork University Hospital, but walked out at 8pm on November 4.

There have no confirmed sightings of her since. When she left she was wearing her slippers.

“I was hoping she’d be safer there. It’s upsetting for me, but at the moment my first priority is to find her,” Mr Dorney said.

Family friend Cllr Alan Coleman said he will be taking up the issue of Ms Dorney’s disappearance with the Health Services Executive.

“I understand that she booked herself in as a voluntary patient, but there is a duty of care. This is extremely distressing for her family. There is widespread concern about this,” Mr Coleman said.

Hundreds of people including gardaí and members of Civil Defence joined in searches for Ms Dorney last weekend.

“Anything between 30 and 50 people are out every morning. People have come from Belgooly, Riverstick and Kinsale to help in the search. People have been fantastic,” Mr Dorney said.

Ms Dorney, who is 5ft 6in and has shoulder- length brown hair, was last seen wearing purple jeans, a peach top and white cardigan.

Gardaí said that reported sightings of her in West Cork were “without substance”.

A meeting is to be held in Riverstick Community Centre tonight at which volunteers will decide on what further areas should be searched.

Anybody with information on Ms Dorney should contact Bishopstown garda station at 021-4541012.

A HSE spokesman said a voluntary patient within its psychiatric services can discharge themselves.

Meanwhile, the garda helicopter is expected to join in the search for another missing Cork woman.

Jean Collins, 43, from Togher, left a note at her home before disappearing with her two pedigree Irish fox terriers. She took them in her red Opel Astra, registration 98 C 16840.

When last seen she was wearing a navy v-neck fleece, a white t-shirt and navy track suit bottoms.

Ms Collins is 5ft 5in tall, of slim build and has brown hair turning grey.

* Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Togher gardaí at 021-49471290.