Coroner refuses to record misadventure verdict

A CORONER yesterday refused an application to record a verdict of misadventure at an inquest into the sudden death of a Limerick teenager who died at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital after a routine appendix operation.

Kenneth Payne, aged 19, of Clonconnane Road, Ballynanty, died on February 3 last having been brought to the hospital by ambulance the previous day suffering from pain.

Due to the nature of the death, his heart was sent to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London to be examined by a cardiac specialist. Dr Mary Shepherd found that Mr Payne died from cardiac arrhythmia.

When coroner Dr Tony Casey said he was recording a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, Dan O’Gorman, solicitor for the Payne family, asked that a verdict of misadventure be recorded.

Dr Casey said he would not accede to this application and added that if Mr Payne had died during the procedure he would have brought in a verdict of misadventure.