Man found dead in river had left hospital in his pyjamas, inquest hears
Found Mayo, Hospital Went The River Inquest Of Was After Body Death His Days Heard The University Into Parke, Nearby Co Of Two From Missing In Castlebar, Rowland Patrick A He Mayo
An inquest into the death of a 69-year-old patient heard the man left a hospital in a confused state wearing his pyjamas on a “bitterly cold” night in January 2023 and phoned his son to collect him but could not be found in time.
The inquest before Coroner Patrick O’Connor for the District of Mayo heard heard his body was found two days later in the Castlebar river.
Patrick Rowland of Parke, Castlebar, Co Mayo, was admitted to Mayo University Hospital (MUH) early on the morning of January 15, 2023.
He spent 42 hours in the emergency department and appeared confused or delirious at times, his son Cormac told the inquest.
Mr Rowland was moved to a ward around midnight on January 16, and shortly afterwards Cormac Rowland said he felt it was all right to go home.
However, within 30 minutes, Cormac received a call at home from his father, in a distressed state, saying he was near a hotel and wanted to be collected.
He and his wife Majella Dunne Rowland, using two mobile phones, attempted to contact the hospital while speaking with Mr Rowland.
Ms Rowland said she was initially told her father-in-law was in the ward. She called again almost immediately, and a second staff member asked where he said he was and agreed to find him.
Driving back to the hospital, Cormac Rowland contacted his father at 01.32am to arrange a meeting place, and said:
Coroner Patrick O’Connor for the district of Mayo heard evidence also from the night porter at the TF Royal Hotel.
He said he saw a man wearing pyjamas and slippers walking past the hotel.
“It was a bitterly cold night, I remember there was a touch of frost on the ground,” he said.
As he went to phone someone, he was contacted by Castlebar Garda Station. While then searching outside, he met two hospital staff doing the same.
Members of An Garda Síochána, Joan Grady and Padraig O’Connor, gave evidence of the search including a Coast Guard helicopter, Civil Defence, search dogs, and many volunteers. She said his mobile phone was ‘pinged’ and CCTV also used.
He found a slipper on the river bank near a bridge on January 17, he said and shared photographs with the coroner indicating a steep drop of “approximately 20 to 25 feet” to the river.
Roger Murray SC, partner in Callan Tansey Solicitors, acting for the family asked did Mr Rowland “voice any intention to self-harm” and was told no by his son.
Mr Rowland’s body was found on January 19, 2023.
Patrick Rowland spent 42 hours in the emergency department before being moved to a ward in Mayo University Hospital, the inquest before Coroner Patrick O’Connor for the District of Mayo heard.
He was described as an honest man with great integrity who is remembered for his good humour and the value he placed on friendship and as someone his children relied on.
The family understood he was being treated for pneumonia, the inquest heard and had underlying conditions including Type 2 Diabetes.
His wife Louisa, son Cormac and other relatives gave evidence about his hospital stay and the search.
Mrs Rowland said he was taken to MUH by ambulance. He arrived just after 6am on Sunday morning, January 15, 2023.
When she visited him that afternoon, she said: “He still appeared confused to me."
Cormac Rowland, pausing a number of times to collect himself, stated that his father spent 42 hours in the emergency department. He also said his father appeared confused.
Mr Rowland was transferred to a ward around midnight as January 16 ran into January 17.
Cormac assisted staff in settling his father into the bed. He then decided to leave, he said. He told the inquest:
However, 30 minutes later, as he arrived home, his father phoned saying he was outside the hospital.
The court heard that Cormac spoke to his father on one mobile phone, and Cormac’s wife Marcella Dunne Rowland used her phone to contact the hospital.
Hospital staff suspected Mr Rowland Sr was delirious as they found it “incredible” that Cormac said he could be outside.
Marcella spoke to a staff member who told her Mr Rowland was in the hospital and the phone went silent when she asked if he was on the telephone.
When they phoned again, a male nurse asked them where did Mr Rowland say he was.
This person said they would find him, on hearing that he was claimed to be near the TF Royal Hotel.
Cormac Rowland said he drove into Castlebar. At 1.32am, he rang his father’s mobile again and agreed to meet him on Market Square.
“This was my last conversation with my father,” he recalled.
He said every time he passes this point on the road now, he recalls his father’s passing.
TF Royal Hotel night porter Kieran Roche said he had seen a man wearing pyjamas and slippers walking past the hotel.
“It was a bitterly cold night. I remember there was a touch of frost on the ground,” he said.
Garda Sergeant Joan Grady told the court a helicopter search by the Coast Guard was arranged, with the Civil Defence and fire services also involved, as well as volunteers.
She agreed with Roger Murray, SC and partner at Callan Tansey Solicitors, for the family, that temperatures were between -2C and -4C degrees.
Garda Padraig O’Connor said he found Mr Rowland’s slipper on the bank of the river, near a bridge in Castlebar, and that his body was identified in the river on January 19.
He showed the court photographs of a steep drop down into the river from a stone bridge.
Evidence from 12 witnesses was heard including three statements read by Garda Sgt Noel Finn.
The inquest continues on Wednesday and is expected to hear from 35 witnesses this week.