Man caught fatal disease during 40th anniversary trip

A retired Limerick man has died from legionnaires’ disease which he caught when he and his wife went for a meal in a hotel in Chicago during a visit to the US last month.

The funeral of Tom Keane, aged 66, a retired plumber with Limerick City Council, will take place in Limerick tomorrow.

He became ill with a chest complaint on his return from the US on Jul 31. After being admitted to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, he was diagnosed with legionnaires’ disease, from which he died on Wednesday.

Two other people who had visited the JE Marriott Hotel in Chicago have also died from the disease, and it is understood eight others are being treated in Chicago hospitals.

Mr Keane, of McDermott Ave, Janesboro, and his wife Olive, went to Chicago to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with their son, Shane, who is studying there, and were accompanied by daughter Lorraine and son-in-law Rory O’Donnell.

The day after they arrived in Chicago they went on a guided walking tour which finished near the Marriott Hotel.

Their other son, Fr Richard Keane, a curate in Newcastle West, said: “They decided to go into the hotel for a meal and had dinner there. They went over on Jul 27 and came back on Jul 31.

“It was just a five-day short stay to celebrate their anniversary.

“After returning, my father developed what seemed a chest infection which got worse and he went into the [Mid-Western Regional Hospital]. He then developed symptoms of pneumonia and was treated with antibiotics and oxygen.

“When it got worse he was moved into the high dependency unit and was then in intensive care for three weeks. He got worse and worse and passed away on Wednesday. The doctors, nurses, and all at the hospital were fantastic.”

When medical staff diagnosed legionnaires’, they immediately went through Mr Keane’s movements and traced his contracting the disease to the Chicago hotel, where the outbreak had been publicised.

Fr Keane said: “My sister is expecting a baby in November and he was so much looking forward to seeing his first grandchild.

“He idolised my mother and every morning brought her breakfast in bed. He never went anywhere without her.

“He was a man who worked hard all his life with the city council and was very proud of us and how we did. He lived life to the full.”

The removal will take place this evening at 7pm from Griffin’s funeral home to Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Janesboro and burial will take place tomorrow after 11 requiem Mass.