The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: Nancy Reilly on her husband Mark's tragic death by suicide at CUH, and HSE apology

Nancy Reilly is deeply critical of the systems failures that led to Mark's death, identifying a number of issues including the lack of a consultant psychiatrist on duty during St Patrick's weekend

Nancy and Mark Reilly. File Picture

Content warning: This article contains discussions of suicide and details some readers may find distressing

Nancy and Mark Reilly had a charmed life together. Irish-American retirees based in Kinsale, their 36 year marriage saw them travel the world teaching English refugee children and getting involved in community projects in their adopted home.

That idyllic life together came to a sudden, tragic end, when Mark Reilly hanged himself while in isolation at Cork University Hospital on 19 March 2022. He had been brought to Bandon Garda station after a suicide attempt four days prior, in the midst of what Nancy believes was a psychotic episode. He had no history of mental health difficulties before that.

Ms Reilly is deeply critical of the systems failures that led to Mark's death, identifying a number of issues including the lack of a consultant psychiatrist on duty during St Patrick's weekend; availability of ligature points in the acute mental health unit; isolation of a patient who was supposed to be on suicide watch.

"There were going to be no psychiatrists on duty all weekend because it was St. Patrick's Day. Now, right there that raises a question. You don't wait to have a heart attack. There would be a cardiologist available if you had a heart attack on St. Patrick's Day.

"Why was there not a psychiatrist on duty?"

Nancy's case against CUH and the HSE was settled at the High Court last month, with the clinical director of South Lee Mental Health Service, Dr Thomas Cronin, writing a letter of apology for shortcomings in Mark's care.

Nancy is Deirdre's guest on Friday's podcast. Listen below:

- If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this Irish Examiner article you can contact:

Samaritans Helpline on 116 123;

Pieta House 24/7 Helpline on 1800 247 247;

or click here for a list of websites offering support services and their helpline numbers.