A CORONER asked a Dublin hospital yesterday to explain its refusal to admit a young man who took his life two days after seeking inpatient treatment there.
Dr Bartley Sheehan, Dublin County Coroner, said the man's family are not seeking to apportion blame or make suggestion of hospital impropriety but they want to know why the 28 year old man was turned away from St John of God's Hospital, Stillorgan.
He added: "Both the family and public need to know the procedures, the processing and management's reason for the deceased's rejection for treatment as an in patient so that future deaths can be avoided."
Mr Michael McDonald, a brother in law told the inquest in Dun Laoghaire that Mr Timothy O'Shea of Mapas Road, Dalkey, Dublin, had twice made "a cry for help" for admission to the hospital but it was rejected.
On the Monday before his death, he had his bag packed thinking he would be admitted. The man had been a patient at that hospital at least three times, suffering from depression.
Sgt John Sheridan said the man was found hanging from a tree at a pathway from Torca Road, Dalkey, on March 5th. He had left notes on a notice board in his bedroom, indicating he was unhappy with himself and his life.
Recording a verdict of self inflicted hanging, Dr Sheehan told the inquest jury that he would communicate with the hospital after the inquest.
The hospital management could not be reached for comment.