Inquest hears man died of traumatic brain injury following Halloween night altercation

By Louise Roseingrave

A 20-year-old man injured on Halloween night last died as a result of a traumatic brain injury, an inquest heard.

Luke O’Reilly from Kiltipper Close, Tallaght, Dublin 24 died in hospital following an altercation on Halloween night 2017.

The young man died due to lack of oxygen to the brain due to a traumatic brain injury, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard.

Inspector John Walsh told the short hearing that one person had been arrested and charged in relation to the young man’s death.

“A file is with the Director of Public Prosecution seeking further and more serious charges,” Inspector Walsh said.

Specialist neurology staff battled to save Mr O’Reilly’s life but he was pronounced dead in hospital on 12.50pm on November 13, 2017, almost two weeks after he was fatally injured.

The young man’s mother Janet O’Brien gave evidence of how she formally identified her son’s remains to Gardaí at the Richmond Unit in Beaumont Hospital following his death.

Garda John Togher was at Beaumont Hospital and recorded every person that entered Mr O’Reilly’s room on the day of his death, he told the inquest.

He in turn identified the remains to pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan who conducted an autopsy the following day.

Dr Mulligan gave the cause of death as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to a traumatic brain injury.

The inquest, opened before coroner Dr Myra Cullinane, was adjourned until after criminal proceedings are complete.