Patient, 89, 'beaten to death' on hospital ward weeks after wife died
A pensioner has died after an alleged assault on a hospital ward.
Police are investigating all of the circumstances which led to the death of the elderly man from from Berrings, Co Cork, after an incident at Mercy University Hospital early this morning.
The tragedy comes just weeks after the death of the victim's wife, who was buried in early January. He is survived by his three children and his eight grandchildren.
Just after 5.30am, the Gardaí - the national police service of Ireland - were alerted to an incident involving two male patients in the hospital, reports the Irish Mirror.
The area where the assault occurred has been cordoned off pending a full forensic and technical examination by gardaí.
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A postmortem will be carried out on the deceased by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster.
The attack was witnessed by other patients, and staff and patients are in a state of shock, as the victim is understood to have been brutally beaten to death by his attacker in a ward.
A man in his late 80s is dead after a supposed assault on a hospital ward (Getty Images/iStockphoto)A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and taken to Bridewell Garda Station in Cork, where he is now detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
Gardaí have said: "The scene is currently preserved for forensic and technical examination.
"An incident room has been established at the Bridewell Garda Station and the services of the State Pathologist have been requested."
The two men were not believed to have been known to each other prior to hospitalisation.
A Garda family liaison officer has been appointed and the family of the deceased have been notified.
Investigating gardaí are not currently seeking anyone else in relation to this incident.
There is no known motive for the attack.
Bridewell Garda Station in Cork (Google Streetview)Speaking to the Mirror this morning, Deirdre Forde the Lord Mayor of Cork, said the entire county will be in shock over the news.
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“It’s very sad news this morning and we are all devastated to hear it.
“It’s just dreadful for that poor man’s family and friends. To go into a hospital when you’re unwell and you hope to improve and come out healthier, and to have this to happen is beyond imagination.
“At the same time I believe such an incident as this will force hospitals to reevaluate their situations.
“The whole of Cork will be shocked to hear about this incident.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to those involved and to the staff, the nurses and doctors at Mercy Hospital who must be traumatised by this incident.”
Long-time advocate for the elderly in Cork, Paddy O'Brien, has offered his condolences to the family of the deceased following the shocking incident.
Mercy University Hospital in Cork (Google Streetview)"I just heard what happened on the news. I sympathise with the family of the man on this tragedy. For a man to go in to hospital only to lose his life. I don't know what to say.
"The Mercy is a fine hospital. I spent a period there myself in 2020. But this is an awful, desperate tragedy. That poor man went in hospital with some illness and nobody could expect a tragedy like this to happen."
When contacted a spokesperson for the HSE said that neither it nor the Hospital could comment on the matter as there is a “live garda investigation,” and referred this paper to the Garda press office.
A Statement from Mercy University Hospital read: "Mercy University Hospital (MUH) Cork can confirm that An Garda Síochána are investigating a fatal incident involving a man in his late eighties at the hospital early this morning (January 20, 2023).
"The incident occurred after 5 am and An Garda Síochána were immediately alerted. The Gardaí have cordoned off and preserved the scene for forensic and technical examination.
"The hospital is providing counselling services to patients and staff affected by the incident.”
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