Priest's death was preventable, inquest finds

The death of a priest, who took his own life in March 2022, was "preventable", a coroner has concluded.

The coroner said the inquest into Fr Paddy O'Kane's death served to highlight the particular challenges that may arise for those in religious life.

Fr O'Kane, 73, was found dead in the garden of a hospital at Gransha Park in Londonderry on 28 March 2022. He was being treated for depression at the hospital at the time of his death.

The Western Health Trust said it "wholeheartedly accepts the findings from the Coroner's inquest and the failings regarding Fr O'Kane's care".

Warning: The following article contains details some readers may find distressing.

The Western Health Trust has previously apologised following Fr O'Kane's death.

On Thursday a spokesperson for the trust said it "would like to reiterate its sincere condolences" to Fr O'Kane's family.

"The Trust has already implemented remedial actions, in line with the Serious Adverse Incident recommendations, to help prevent a recurrence of such incidents."

John McGinley, who was assistant director of the Western Health and Social Care Trust at the time of Fr O'Kane's death, previously told the inquest that the garden area at the hospital had not been included in a health and safety assessment, which he described as a "serious and grave error".

He said that lessons had been learned from the tragedy and he was "very sorry for our failings".

On Thursday, the coroner, Maria Dougan, told the inquest that the absence of a comprehensive assessment in the hospital's garden area, along with the failure to remove risks, contributed to Fr O'Kane's death.

She added: "I'm satisfied that there were a number of missed opportunities in the care of the deceased."

Dougan said that Fr O'Kane had a long history of mental health problems and his condition was chronic in nature.

She said she was satisfied that his diagnosis and treatment at Waterside Hospital were adequate and the level of observation of him in place at the hospital - which was 'general observation' - was appropriate on the morning of his death, on 28 March 2022.

The coroner said there was insufficient evidence to indicate that one-to-one observations were needed.

But she told the inquest that the safety assessment should have been undertaken given his history.

Dougan said that at the time of Fr O'Kane's death, there was no dedicated risk assessment or action plan covering the hospital's garden area.

She said the processes in place applied only to the hospital's wards and did not extend to its garden, which she described as a serious and material failing.

Dougan added that the absence of a comprehensive ligature risk assessment and action plan resulted in the presence of ligature materials.

The absence of a systematic approach to risks was a matter of concern, she told the inquest.

She said Fr O'Kane acted intentionally at the time of his death but his thinking was profoundly affected by his illness.

Dougan said that drawing the matters together, there were identifiable and avoidable risks which were not adequately identified or managed, and in these circumstances, Fr O'Kane was able to take his own life.

She said that John McGinley had previously confirmed to the inquest that the risks identified following the late priest's death have now been addressed - and that the hospital's garden, which was not previously considered in the hospital's risk assessment, is now included in such assessments.

She told the court that Fr O'Kane - who was known to many as 'Fr Paddy' - had a long history of mental health illness which he had experienced for most of his life.

She said he had remained committed to the service of others, often assuming other people's burdens as his own, which became harder to sustain in later life.

The coroner described Fr O'Kane as a man of warmth and talent - and as a central and unifying figure within his family - and said his death was a profound and irreplaceable loss.

Dougan also said the inquest serves to highlight the particular challenges that may arise for those in religious life, individuals who dedicate themselves to the care and support of others may do so while quietly experiencing their own difficulties, including those relating to mental health.

In that context, the coroner said that consideration should be given by the relevant religious authorities to the support structures available to those in religious life following discharge from hospital for treatment of mental illness.

The coroner concluded by saying that Fr O'Kane's life was one characterised by "service generosity and human connection".

"He will be remembered with deep affection by those whose lives he touched."

Before the inquest closed, a representative for the Western Trust extended their condolences to the family and friends of Fr O'Kane

Father O'Kane's niece Catherine Duffy was present to hear the inquest findings.

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