THE inquest into the death of an elderly man in a Portlaoise nursing home was adjourned yesterday. The Laois county coroner, Mr Eugene O'Connor, decided to empanel a jury and present the depositions of the witnesses again on November 25th.
Mr O'Connor came to the conclusion after hearing the evidence of witnesses at the inquest on Mr Frank Burke, from Killamuck, Abbeyleix, who died aged 86 in the Aisling Nursing Home on August 26th, 1995.
A hearing two weeks ago was informed that death was due to extensive metastatic prostatic carcinoma and ischaemic heart disease in an elderly male, contributed to by the effect of the ingestion of a combination of drugs pethidine, promazine and dihyrochodeine.
Dr Margaret Bolster, pathologist, explained on that occasion that none of the drugs was present in his body at a fatal level. The combination of three drugs in a patient who was ill played a contributory role in his death.
Prescriptions were issued for dihydrochodeine and promazine.
After hearing depositions from a number of witnesses yesterday, the coroner announced there was a substantial conflict of evidence between the various witnesses and Mrs Gorman, the nursing home owner.
Having heard the evidence, he was of the view that the inquest should be heard before a jury.
A further date had already been set aside for the recall of Dr Bolster, on November 18th however, he decided to use his discretion under the Act and empanel a jury. All the witnesses would be called again on November 25th and the jury would be entitled to ask questions.