Man died as no staff available
His family were notified of his death the next day by his psychiatrist, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard.
Denise Campbell, who carried out supervisory and housekeeping duties at the five-bed Blanchardstown house, said there were four residents at the time. The deceased man’s father, Noel O’Hanrahan, told coroner Myra Cullinane he thought there was no staff at the facility on the day of his son’s death. Ms Campbell confirmed this: “There was no weekend staff available to work that weekend. It happens every now and then.”
Ms Campbell said she had arrived at work on February 9 at 8am. She called the residents to get up for work or attend their individual activities. When she got no response from Mr O’Hanrahan she entered his room, where he was unresponsive and his body was cold.
Mr O’Hanrahan had had a period of instability in January 2014, when he stopped taking medication, the court heard. However, he was doing well at the house and was described as being in good form prior to his death.
He had a number of medications in his system at the time of his death, including xanax, valium and the anti-psychotic drug clozapine.
A toxicology report showed that he also had zopiclone, a sleeping pill and morphine in his system. None of these were present in toxic levels but the combined effect is “extremely sedating”, the coroner said.
Returning a verdict of death by misadventure, Dr Cullinane, offered her condolences to the family: “Clearly he had difficulties but he was very well-loved and supported and he was getting some stability back into his life.”
