HSE review at Kerry hospital 'acknowledges the devastating impact' of man's death by suicide

Liam Mitchell was born in Montreal and had moved back to Ireland where his mother was from to reconnect with his heritage

Mr Mitchell’s two daughters had sued the HSE over their father’s death at University Hospital Kerry. File picture: Dan Linehan

The family of an Irish Canadian man who died by suicide at University Hospital Kerry has settled a High Court action for €125,000.

Liam Mitchell was 61 years of age when he died at University Hospital Kerry and had been living in Co Kerry for over three years after moving here from Canada.

Mr Mitchell’s two daughters — Siobhan O’ Keefe who lives in Austria and Kelly Dawn Mitchell who lives in the UK — had sued the HSE over their father’s death.

The family’s counsel, Dr John O’Mahony SC, told the High Court it was a very tragic case. Mr Mitchell who was born in Montreal had moved back to Ireland where his mother was from to reconnect with his heritage.

Counsel said an acknowledgement was contained in a HSE review of the case of the devastating impact of Mr Mitchell's death on his family.

It read: "The Mental Health Services wish to express their deepest condolences to the family and to acknowledge the devastating impact of his death . They commit to ensuring that the recommendations identified in this report are implemented.” Liability was admitted in the case..

Mr Mitchell who lived at Gneeveguilla, Sliabh Luachra, Co Kerry, had been referred to the to University Hospital Kerry on September 6, 2019, for assessment. Mr Mitchell, who had a history of mental health issues, was admitted to the mental health unit at the hospital for a review of medication but he remained an inpatient there for 11 weeks until his death on November 23, 2019.

In the proceedings it was claimed there was an alleged failure to have maintained adequate and ongoing supervision and care of Mr Mitchell and there was an alleged failure to adequately monitor Mr Mitchell.

It was also claimed that there was an alleged failure to advise all members of the staff who had any part in the care and management of Mr Mitchell that he was likely to attempt to carry out suicide.

HSE review

A HSE system analysis review report which addressed the circumstances of Mr Mitchell's death was carried out. It identified issues around communication and documentation of information in relation to the patient's risk review and risk management plan, but said there was no evidence that these had a direct impact or bearing on the sad outcome.

A number of recommendations were made including that the service should review the process in place at the time for the handover and communication of information between shifts and the multidisciplinary team. This was to ensure a new system was effective in relation to the communication of and response to information pertinent to patient care.

It also recommended that a revision of relevant policies take place and include the requirement to state clearly that when a patient’s possessions are removed on admission that they be listed and recorded.

Noting the settlement in the High Court, Mr Justice Paul Coffey offered his deepest sympathy to Mr Mitchell’s family.