Roscommon man's death prompts coroner’s warning on isolation
Ballaghaderreen Courthouse where an inquest heard last week how a man in his sixties was discovered deceased at his home by concerned cousin.
The coroner for County Roscommon has warned that isolation has become “a pressing public health concern” after an inquest heard how a man with advanced cancer died alone in extremely poor living conditions.
Roscommon coroner Brian O'Connor said it was “yet another tragic case involving an isolated individual who succumbed to a severe lack of basic care and extreme living conditions”.
The inquest at Ballaghaderreen heard that the man in his sixties was discovered deceased at his home earlier this year. He was found by a concerned cousin sitting on a kitchen chair and had not been seen before that for about 10 days.
A deposition given at the inquest by gardaí described the living conditions in the house as poor, noting that part of the roof at the rear of the property had collapsed. It also appeared that he was living in only one room.
Evidence was also heard that there were no kitchen facilities and no obvious heat source in the dwelling. One garda told the inquest that family members, friends and neighbours had attempted to support the man but that he largely kept to himself.
"He appeared to be a bit of a loner," the Garda said, adding that those close to him had made genuine efforts to help.
The doctor, who attended the scene, said the man had not attended the local GP practice since 2000. When the doctor entered the house, she found him seated in a chair, unresponsive and cold.
The doctor described him as appearing “undernourished and unkempt”. She also noted that the house was in very poor condition, with a partially collapsed roof and no evident source of heating.
The consultant pathologist who carried out the autopsy said that the man weighed just 50kg and “appeared emaciated”. The examination revealed extensive cancer which had spread throughout his body.
The pathologist concluded that the cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest in the setting of advanced, widely metastatic primary colorectal adenocarcinoma.
Returning a verdict of misadventure, Roscommon coroner Brian O’Connor said that while the circumstances “might initially suggest abandonment”, the evidence clearly demonstrated that family members made “active, repeated attempts to intervene and support him but they were systematically refused entry by the deceased”.
"This case highlights yet another tragic case involving an isolated individual who succumbed to a severe lack of basic care and extreme living conditions," the coroner said.
The coroner also noted that similar cases were being seen with increasing frequency across Ireland.
“Coroners across Ireland have increasingly noted that this issue is not confined to rural areas nor restricted by social class. With many people living alone in Ireland, isolation has become a pressing public health concern.
“The rise in these tragic cases has prompted calls from medical professionals and coroners for more proactive, multi-agency safeguarding policies that can step in before an isolated individual reaches a point of terminal self-neglect,” he said.
Mr O’Connor extended his sympathies to the deceased’s family and friends. On behalf of the gardaí, Sergeant Adrian Duffy also expressed his condolences to the family.
