Gardaí investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a chronically dehydrated and emaciated Wexford woman earlier this year say it is unclear if any criminal charges will be pursued in the case.
Evelyn Joel (58), from Enniscorthy, died six days after she was admitted to Wexford General Hospital on January 1st. She had been suffering from multiple sclerosis and arthritis and was severely malnourished.
Her daughter Eleanor, who had been caring for her, said her mother had refused to eat after her partner died in mid-December. She called a doctor on New Year's Day and an ambulance brought her mother to hospital.
A Garda spokesman said at the time that she had been found "in a bed in absolutely horrendous circumstances" after a doctor was called to the house she shared with her daughter Eleanor, Eleanor's partner and their children.
Senior Garda sources last night said an extensive file on the case had been completed and was now being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for consideration.
The Irish Times understands that the file simply contains the evidence in the case and that gardaí make no recommendation about the pursuit, or otherwise, of criminal charges.
An independent committee investigating the Health Service Executive's dealings with the late Ms Joel has been working on the case since January.
Four weeks after the death gardaí arrested two people for questioning. These were known to the dead woman.
They were released without charge after being questioned at Enniscorthy Garda station on January 30th. The replies they furnished to gardaí form part of the file now to be considered by the DPP.
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