Mentally ill man choked himself to death

A MAN with a profound intellectual disability, who had developed a habit of self-strangulation over the course of his life, died from asphyxia arising from the habit.

Stephen Brennan, 55, a patient at Stuart’s Hospital, Palmerstown for 40 years of his life, died at James Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown on March 13 of this year.

An inquest at Dublin County Coroner’s Court yesterday heard Mr Brennan had developed the habit of putting his hands up to his neck and choking himself. He was checked by staff for this behaviour on two occasions in the early hours of the day he died.