Nursing home warned of risks

The HSE facility from which an 87-year-old man disappeared on Friday before being found drowned in a nearby pier was warned more than two years ago that its policies could lead to tragedy.

Killybegs Community Hospital in Donegal was told in a September 2009 Health Information Quality Authority report that its “open door policy” meant vulnerable residents “may leave unescorted” and without staff noticing.

The health watchdog’s report said this was a “potential risk” to safety that needed to be addressed.

The facility is at the centre of a HSE investigation over how Paddy Keeney left unescorted before being found drowned at a nearby pier.

Mr Keeney went missing from the public nursing home on Friday morning. His body was located at 4.30pm that day. He was buried yesterday.

The HSE has confirmed it has begun a review of the incident.

Since July 2010, electronic tags have been placed on vulnerable residents at the centre so staff can “find the patient before they leave the ward area”.

The HSE declined to clarify whether a tag was placed on Mr Keeney.