The parents of a 25-year-old man who died by suicide have taken a High Court action aimed at having an external review of his care released.
Dr Alan Costello and Denise Costello settled a court action in 2021 over the death of their son Jamie and received an apology from the mental health service he was using.
Jamie Costello from Cornadulla, Co Galway, was taken from the water at the Cliffs of Moher on 1 October 2019.
He was a voluntary patient at the Acute Mental Health Unit at University Hospital Galway but was only supposed to leave the unit in the company of his family or occupational therapists.
The court was told that he had complex mental problems and had been granted unsupervised leave when it was allegedly known he was a suicide risk.
An external review was commissioned by the HSE three years ago and the Costellos say the report from that review should be made available to them.
Senior counsel Eoin Carolan told the High Court today there were serious concerns about a desktop review now being proposed.
The Costellos want the court to compel the HSE to make the final report available. They are also seeking declarations that they are entitled to receive the report and that an alleged refusal to commit to releasing the final report constitutes a breach of fundamental fairness.
In a sworn statement, Denise Costello said on 22 February this year they were told that the system analysis review report had not been accepted by the Serious Incident Management Review team and a desktop review which would identify any further actions that may mitigate against the recurrence of the tragic events of 1 October 2019 would be commissioned.
The recommendations of the desktop review would be shared with the Costellos.
Mrs Costello said she and her husband were “devastated to learn this unexpected news regarding the apparent abandonment of the independent review process”.
“It adds to the already unacceptable levels of delay we have been experiencing in receiving answers about our son’s death,” she said and added they were also shocked by the lack of information provided as to the reason for the change of direction.
“It is particularly hurtful we have not been provided with the basic courtesy of clear information about a process in which we are so invested and for which we have waited so long,” she added.
Mr Justice Charles Meenan adjourned the case until 17 April for mention and said he wants a substantive response from the HSE by then.
Parents of man who died in bid to have review released
Source: Viral Trends Report
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