Review underway after man died by suicide shortly after attending University Hospital Galway 

University Hospital Galway. A spokesperson for the HSE West and North West said the matter is now under review. File picture

A review is underway at University Hospital Galway after a man died by suicide on Tuesday, shortly after presenting himself in the emergency room seeking mental supports.

Adam Loughnane, aged 34, had been receiving help from the charity COPE in Galway in recent years, after suffering with mental health issues.

The gifted writer and poet, who was also skilled in mathematics, was before the courts last week for assaulting his late father, former lecturer Dr Bob Loughnane from Galway and Mayo Institute of Technology, who died in 2023.

He had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the state Act, 1997. He was on bail and was due to be sentenced in July.

On Tuesday, his remains were taken from the River Corrib in Galway. His older brother Joe told the Irish Examiner his brother died shortly after attending the Accident and Emergency unit.

“My mother rang me to try and tell me and a garda took the phone to say Adam was dead,” he said. “We went to the hospital to identify him.

“Staff there told me he had been in earlier, at around 2pm, and he left after being asked to wait.

“He was in a bad place and sought help from COPE before going to the hospital. He was seen by a triage nurse, and they had told him they need to get a mental health liaison officer.

He was asked to wait. He walked around 10 minutes away and drowned himself. I want to know how that happened. Why was he left alone?

“I don’t think he wanted to die; he had packed his pyjamas. He just got up and walked out."

Gardaí have confirmed they are treating the matter as a “personal tragedy”.

In a statement a spokesperson for the HSE West and North West said:

“While we cannot comment on individual cases, GUH management and staff offer our sincere condolences to the family of this patient.

“As this matter is now under review and in the interests of patient confidentiality, it would be inappropriate to comment further.” The Irish Examiner has written to the DPP.