Widow of suicide victim hospital case out of court

The widow of man who took his own life 10 years ago while he was a patient at a psychiatric hospital has settled her action for negligence, the High Court heard today.

Mrs Teresa Gillespie with an address at Mount Edward, Ballinful, Co Sligo had sued the North Western Health Board for negligence arising out of the death of her husband Eddie in May 1998 while he was a patient at St Columba's Hospital, Ballinode, Co Sligo.

It was claimed that death of Mr Gillespie was caused by the wrongful acts of the defendants.

As a result Ms Gillespie claimed that she and her family had had suffered mental distress, loss and damage.

The defendant had denied the claims.

Today at the High Court Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy was informed that the parties had agreed to settle the matter out of court. Liability was not admitted in the case.

The court heard that painter and decorator Eddie Gillespie, then aged 51, and had a long history of depressive illnesses and had been admitted to hospital on a number of previous occasions, was found dead in the grounds of the hospital on the evening of May 13th 1998.

Counsel for Mrs Gillespie Mr Michael Cush SC said that it was his client's claim that there was an absence of a clear plan or system to monitor and observe Mr Gillespie following changes to his medication regime.

It was argued that such a plan should have been in place especially given Mr Gillespie's medical history.

Counsel said that Mr Gillespie was last seen at around 10-30am on the morning of May 13th when he complained to a member of staff that he did not feel well.

The staff member, after contacting a doctor, returned some 15 minutes later, but Mr Gillespie was missing. Following a search his body was recovered at 5.30pm that evening.

However Counsel said that the plaintiff's expert witnesses opinion was that it would be hard to criticise that level of supervision at the hospital.

In accepting the settlement Ms Gillespie told the judge that she had brought the action not for money, but on a matter of principle.