Grieving parents got wrong lab results

A grieving Limerick family wrongly told their son’s brain had been removed during a postmortem and sent to the state laboratory, also received written pathology and laboratory reports which contained the name of another person.

Joseph O’Donnell, aged 30, was found dead in a city centre apartment on Dec 7, 2010. An inquest held by city coroner, John McNamara on April 4, 2011, recorded an open verdict.

Another man also named Joseph O’Donnell, aged 48, died in violent circumstances in the city on Oct 1, 2010. His brain had been removed during a postmortem and sent to the state laboratory.