Man last seen alive by gravedigger

A father-of-one who absconded from a psychiatric unit on the grounds of a Dublin hospital was last seen alive by a gravedigger.

Alan Stanley, aged 41, of Brookmount, Tallaght, was found dead by his wife at Bohernabreena cemetery on March 22, 2014.

His mother, Marie Stanley, said she begged staff at Tallaght Hospital to admit her son to a secure psychiatric unit as she feared he would kill himself.

Speaking from the public gallery at Dublin Coroner’s Court she said: “Alan was going berserk at home. He hadn’t slept for nights. I’d never seen him like that,” Mrs Stanley said.

“I told the doctor please, I’m begging. A mother knows, he has to go into somewhere that’s safe. Please do that for me,” she said.

Mr Stanley, a steel fabricator who ran his own business prior to the recession, was admitted to the Rowan Ward at a psychiatric facility on the grounds of Tallaght Hospital through the accident and emergency department two days before his death. He was given a bed next to the nurses’ station.

Liliana Marques said Mr Stanley was calm and co-operative. During her examination, she found a ‘bag of pills’ hidden in his sock.

“He apologised for the bag, he said he just wanted to have it with him, in case he needed them,” she said.

Dr Marques said Mr Stanley did not ask to be transferred to the high observation Aspen Ward, although family members claim they requested that he would be.

Mr Stanley’s wife Ashling told the inquest she believes her husband tried to leave the ward on March 21, the day before his death. She arrived during visiting hours to find her husband “crying and emotional”.

In her deposition, she said she’d been told Mr Stanley had tried to leave.

On the day of his death, Mr Stanley was seen leaving the hospital grounds as the other patients ate breakfast at 9am. When his name was called, he looked back, before starting to run in the direction of the Maldron Hotel. He was last seen pacing around Bohernabreena cemetery by the gravedigger and was later found dead by his wife. The cause of death was asphyxia and the jury returned a verdict of suicide.

Marie Stanley said she blames herself for her son’s death.

“I should have been there to make sure he went into it [the higher security Aspen Ward]. I’ll blame myself for the rest of my life,” she said.