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Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Solicitor 'mystified' why gardai didn't seek copy of prisoner's post-mortem
A solicitor has told an inquest that he is "mystified" why a Garda file on the death of a prisoner in custody was submitted to the DPP without including a copy of the post-mortem. Solicitor, Michael Finucane, made his comments during a preliminary hearing of the inquest into the death of Michael 'Skin' Devlin – a father of five with an address in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford on February 21, 2024. Mr Devlin was found unresponsive in his cell at Cloverhill Prison in Clondalkin, Dublin less than two months after his recapture following a period where he had been on the run for almost four years. The deceased was a convicted drug dealer who had been returned to prison in January 2024 after absconding from Shelton Abbey open prison in Arklow, Co Wicklow in the summer of 2020. A previous sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court in May heard that the results of a post-mortem showed he had died from complications of a rare medical condition which can block a person's airway. General view of Cloverhill Prison in Dublin (Image: PA) The autopsy found he had died from complications of acute adult supraglottitis – a rare, potentially fatal bacterial infection which causes inflammation of parts of the larynx. At a hearing on Wednesday, Mr Finucane, who is representing the deceased's family questioned why a post-mortem had not been sought by gardaí as part of the file it was preparing for the DPP. Mr Finucane complained that there had been no contact with Mr Devlin's family about the progress of the investigation into his death despite the legal obligation to keep them informed, particularly in relation to a death in custody. However, the investigating officer, Garda Cormac Judge, told the hearing that he had contacted the family about a week ago. Detective Inspector Brian Hanley informed the coroner, Clare Keane, that a Garda file on the investigation into the prisoner's death had originally been forwarded to the DPP on May 22. However, Det Insp Hanley said the file had been resubmitted about two weeks ago after it emerged that the original file had been mislaid. Dr Keane confirmed that the DPP had asked her office for a copy of the post-mortem and she said it would be provided. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week In reply to a question from Mr Finucane, Det Insp Hanley said he was not aware if gardaí had sought a copy of the post-mortem as it was not his case. Following a brief adjournment, the coroner confirmed that gardaí had sought a copy of the post-mortem on August 8. There were tetchy exchanges between the coroner and Mr Finucane after the solicitor's attempts to put questions to Garda Judge were refused. Mr Finucane said Garda Judge was the best witness to provide accurate information about the course of the investigation into Mr Devlin's death. He said he wanted to find out why gardaí had not sought a post-mortem before August 8 and to ask if Garda Judge had delivered the file to the DPP given it had gone missing. Mr Finucane said he could not understand why he was not being allowed to question the garda. The solicitor also asked the coroner if her office had any liaison with the Inspector of Prisons. 'The questions are about the expeditious nature of the investigation or lack thereof,' remarked Mr Finucane. Following another short adjournment, Dr Keane said the solicitor's questions were reasonable and she understood they needed to be answered. The coroner said she would deal with the queries via correspondence, while adding that there was nothing to stop Mr Finucane dealing directly with An Garda Síochána. She granted an application by Det Insp Hanley for a three-month adjournment of the case and listed it for further mention on November 13. Mr Devlin, who came originally from Drogheda Co Louth, was in the closing months of a 10-year prison sentence at the time of his death, although he was due to face further charges over his absconding from Shelton Abbey. The deceased was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court in October 2014. Mr Devlin, who had 11 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Cartown, Termonfeckin, Co Louth on September 20, 2013. He claimed the offence was related to his efforts to clear a drug debt of €10,000 which he incurred after a quantity of heroin he was minding had gone missing. The court heard Mr Devlin had a long history of drug abuse and developed a heroin addiction in 2009. The deceased's father was also convicted on a similar charge in relation to the discovery of almost 65kg of cannabis worth €1.3 million. Mr Devlin Snr was given a 12-year prison sentence with the final four years suspended. The father and son subsequently lost a joint appeal that their sentences were unduly severe at the Court of Appeal in February 2016. Sign up to the Irish Mirror's Courts and Crime newsletter here and get breaking crime updates and news from the courts direct to your inbox.
Irish Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Major update on inquests into 3 children killed by their mother five years ago
The father of three children killed by their mother at their family home in south Dublin five years ago has welcomed news that inquests into their deaths are scheduled to be heard before the end of the year. However, the scope of the inquiry to be held by the senior coroner in Dublin, Myra Cullinane, has still to be determined. Dr Cullinane told a brief sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court on Wednesday that she planned to hold the inquests into the deaths of Conor (9), Darragh (7) and three-year-old Carla McGinley before the end of 2025. The bodies of the three children were discovered at their family home at Parson's Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin on January 24, 2020. At the opening of the inquests into the children's deaths in September 2020, it was revealed that postmortems had shown that the three young siblings had died from suffocation. Their mother, Deirdre Morley, a paediatric nurse, was subsequently found not guilty of their murder by reason of insanity following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in May 2021. The children's father, Andrew McGinley, has called for the scope of the inquests into their deaths to be widened to examine the diagnosis and treatment of his wife's mental illness before the tragic event. At the latest sitting of the inquests, Dr Cullinane asked all interested parties to confirm that there would be no further submissions in relation to the scope of her inquiry in addition to those requested at a previous hearing in June 2023. Submissions have already been made on behalf of consultant psychiatrist, Olivia Gibbons; Mr McGinley and the HSE. Counsel for Ms Morley, Nora-Pat Stewart BL, confirmed that she would not be making any submission on the scope of the inquiry. Ms Stewart also acknowledged there was no reason why proceeding with the inquests would not be in her client's interest. The coroner said she would issue her ruling on the scope of the inquiry by correspondence with the parties by July 31. It was also agreed between the parties that there would be full disclosure of Ms Morley's medical records without any redactions. The coroner heard that some medical records were already available to the relevant parties 'as part of another process.' Counsel for Dr Gibbons, Simon Mills SC, confirmed that his client had no objections to the disclosure of such documents. Dr Cullinane replied that she intended to share the medical records, which would cover a significant time period, with the parties 'within days.' The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The coroner said she would also make available the reports of two forensic psychiatrists who had examined Ms Morley after the deaths of her three children as well as a transcript of her trial and the Garda file on the investigation. Ms Stewart also applied for legal aid for Ms Morley, who attended the hearing via videolink, so that she could be represented at inquests that would involve 'particularly difficult matters' in which complex issues were expected to arise. Dr Cullinane noted that legislation only allowed legal aid to be granted to one family member but granted the application after no objections were raised to the application. The coroner said it was ultimately a matter for the Legal Aid Board to confirm if legal aid would be certified. She adjourned the hearing for mention to October 3 to indicate a list of witnesses expected to give evidence. Dr Cullinane said she intended to hold the full inquests 'shortly thereafter' which she indicated would be before the end of the year. Speaking after the hearing, Mr McGinley said he welcomed the fact that the process was moving forward and expressed hope that there would be 'an extended scope' to the inquests. 'An inquest is to be a clear and transparent process. It can only be done if everybody engages positively with it. That's why I'm here,' said Mr McGinley. The coroner previously heard that Ms Morley had been an in-patient at a private psychiatric hospital less than six months before the death of her children. Mr McGinley's legal representatives told the coroner that he believed his wife's condition had not been properly diagnosed and she had not been properly treated. They also claimed that he had not been properly involved in her diagnosis and treatment and that Mr McGinley believed there was a link between her medical treatment and his children's deaths. The inquests heard that Mr McGinley's motivation in seeking to widen the scope of the inquest was to identify circumstances which could prevent the recurrence of such a terrible event. His lawyers claimed such an objective is entirely legitimate and is underpinned by the public policy consideration of coroner's courts. However, counsel for Dr Gibbons, a consultant psychiatrist at St Patrick's Mental Health Services who had treated Ms Morley, claimed the proposed extension of the scope of the inquest would result in an inquiry that would be 'a radically different matter not envisaged by the Oireachtas.' Ms Morley had been voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility in July 2019 and had been discharged from the care of Dr Gibbons on August 1, 2019. At the hearing in June 2023, Dr Mills also pointed out that an expert witness had given evidence on behalf of Ms Morley during her criminal trial that she had only formed the intention to act on her children in January 2020 and that she had not disclosed that intention to anybody. He also noted that civil remedies were available and were being taken up by both Mr McGinley and his wife as they were taking legal actions against medical professionals and the HSE. Dr Mills said they could also make complaints to various regulatory bodies that oversee medical professionals. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
12-07-2025
- Sunday World
Sudden death of student may be linked to genetic abnormality and oral contraceptive pill, inquest hears
Teenager was at increased risk of blood clots Sarah-Kate O'Meara died in June last year during her Leaving Cert exams The sudden death of a healthy young student from Cork in the middle of her Leaving Cert exams last year may be linked to both a previously unknown genetic abnormality and an oral contraceptive pill, an inquest has heard. A sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court heard that Sarah-Kate O'Meara had begun taking a common combined oral contraceptive, Ovreena, about a month before her death. Today, an inquest into her death heard the Glen Rovers camogie player would also have been at an increased risk of blood clots due to a previously unknown genetic condition as well as a period of relative inactivity while studying for exams. A post-mortem examination showed the teenager died from a lack of oxygen to the brain due to blood clots in her right lung and in veins on the surface of her brain. The 18-year-old student from Baker's Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital after becoming unwell at her home on the morning of June 10, 2024, just before she was due to sit a maths paper in her Leaving Cert exams at Mount Mercy College. Sarah-Kate was transferred to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin the following day for specialist care but her condition subsequently deteriorated and she died on June 17 last year – four days after her 18th birthday. Her mother, Diann O'Meara, told the inquest that her daughter – one of five children – was a healthy teenager who was very sporty, playing camogie, running and going to the gym. Read more Coalman convicted of Slane Castle killing had €322k cash hidden under false step in his house She said Sarah-Kate was 'so health-conscious' that she would give out to the rest of her family about putting salt and butter on their food. Ms O'Meara recalled her daughter giving a small cough after coming into the kitchen at around 8.25am on June 10 last year with a study folder under her arm. She told the inquest that Sarah-Kate then fell to the ground as if she had fainted. Ms O'Meara said she screamed for her husband, Tony, to help before their daughter started speaking, although she still appeared somewhat disoriented. After being moved to a couch, the teenager told her parents that she felt like something was stuck in her chest but was concerned about going to school for her exam. Ms O'Meara said her daughter vomited shortly after she had given her some Lucozade and Calpol. A short time later, they called an ambulance after her lips went blue and her skin turned grey and she went into convulsions. Breaking down in tears at regular intervals as she recalled the tragic events, Ms O'Meara said her husband started CPR on their daughter and was later assisted by a pharmacist from a nearby pharmacy. However, Sarah-Kate was unresponsive by the time paramedics arrived at the home. Ms O'Meara said they decided to donate their daughter's organs to help others after being informed by doctors at the Mater Hospital that the chances of her recovering were unlikely. In reply to questions from the coroner, Clare Keane, she said there was nothing to suggest there was anything amiss with her daughter's health in the days before her collapse. Ms O'Meara outlined how Sarah-Kate had visited the Parklands Surgery general practice in Cork the previous month to arrange to start taking a contraceptive pill. The inquest heard she was on no other medication at the time of her death apart from an occasional protein supplement and had no history of blood clots. Ms O'Meara said Sarah-Kate had suffered from migraine for a number of years but had no longer required treatment for it since 2017. Cork-based GP, Caroline Burke, gave evidence of prescribing Ovreena to the teenager following a detailed consultation on May 13, last year. Dr Burke said the teenager wanted to go on the pill to lighten her periods as well as for contraceptive purposes. The doctor told the inquest that she went through the various options for contraception and a detailed set of questions that covered possible risk factors as well as checking the patient's blood pressure and weight. Dr Burke said she had discussed the patient's previous history of migraine but was reassured that she had not suffered the specific type of migraine that posed a particular risk. The inquest heard that Sarah-Kate was given a prescription for one month for Ovreena and had booked a follow-up check for one month later. Dr Burke told the coroner that Ovreena was 'the safest first-line option' for the combined oral contraceptive pill. Consultant cardiologist at CUH, Gerry Fahy, told the hearing that the teenager's poor condition on arrival at the hospital had required her to be defibrillated 15 times over a 90-minute period. Dr Fahy said doctors were not aware at the time of the underlying cause of what happened and originally believed it was due to inflammation of the heart muscle before it became clearer that it could be due to blood clots. He said that the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation – a rare condition where the patient is prone to both clotting and bleeding at the same time – which posed major challenges in providing regular treatment for clots. Consultant intensivist and anaesthetist at the Mater, Dr Deirdre Edgeworth, gave evidence that the patient was deemed suitable for treatment with the hospital's ECMO machine – which diverts blood away from the lungs and heart – for patients with cardiac conditions that are considered reversible. Consultant cardiologist at the Mater, Dr Katie Murphy, said Sarah-Kate had no signs of any underlying cardiac condition. Dr Murphy said the patient's cardiac function had improved with the ECMO treatment but the neurological injuries she had suffered as a result of the cardiac event had proven fatal. The cardiologist said she believed the cause of the blood clots were 'multi-factorial', including the patient's use of an oral contraceptive pill and not being as active as normal due to her studies. Dr Murphy also said that testing had shown Sarah-Kate had a genetic abnormality known as Factor V Leiden which placed her at an increased risk of blood clots. Recording a narrative verdict to reflect the complexity of the evidence, Dr Keane said she noted the significant finding in relation to Factor V Leiden. The coroner also observed that there was a known increased risk of blood clots with the combined oral contraceptive pill. Dr Keane recorded that the potential side effects of the pill had been explained to the teenager and that it had been prescribed at a time when her genetic abnormality was unknown. The inquest heard that the donation of the deceased's kidneys had saved the lives of two other patients. Offering her condolences to the student's family, Dr Keane said she was so sorry 'for the heartbreaking loss of your vibrant daughter'. Ms O'Meara replied: 'It's the world's loss – not just ours. She had so much to offer.' Her family had originally sought an adjournment of the inquest after only receiving a copy of Dr Burke's deposition just before the hearing which had left them 'taken aback'. However, they decided to allow the inquest to proceed after the coroner informed them they could ask questions about any evidence.
Irish Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Teen who died suddenly during Leaving Cert saved two lives
The sudden death of a healthy young student from Cork in the middle of her Leaving Certificate exams last year may be linked to both a previously unknown genetic abnormality and an oral contraceptive pill, an inquest has heard. A sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court heard that Sarah-Kate O'Meara had begun taking a common combined oral contraceptive, Ovreena, about a month before her death. An inquest on Friday into her death heard the Glen Rovers camogie player would also have been at an increased risk of blood clots due to a previously unknown genetic condition as well as a period of relative inactivity while studying for exams. A postmortem on the body of the teenager showed she died from a lack of oxygen to the brain which was due to blood clots in her right lung and in veins on the surface of her brain. The 18-year-old student from Baker's Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital after becoming unwell at her home on the morning of June 10, 2024 just before she was due to sit a Maths paper in her Leaving Certificate exams at Mount Mercy College. Ms O'Meara was transferred to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin the following day for specialist care but her condition subsequently deteriorated and she died on June 17 last year – four days after her 18th birthday. The deceased's mother, Diann O'Meara, told the inquest that her daughter – one of five children – was a healthy teenager who was very sporty by playing camogie, running and going to the gym. She said Sarah-Kate was 'so health conscious' that she would give out to the rest of her family about putting salt and butter on their food. Ms O'Meara recalled her daughter giving a small cough after coming into the kitchen at around 8.25am on June 10, 2024 with a study folder under her arm. She told the inquest that Sarah-Kate then fell helplessly to the ground as if she had fainted. Ms O'Meara said she screamed for her husband, Tony, to help before their daughter started speaking, although she still appeared somewhat disoriented. After being moved to a couch, the teenager told her parents that she felt like something was stuck in her chest but was concerned about going to school for her exam. Ms O'Meara said her daughter vomited shortly after she had given her some Lucozade and Calpol. A short time later, they called an ambulance after her lips went blue and her skin turned grey and she went into convulsions. Breaking down in tears at regular intervals as she recalled the tragic events, Ms O'Meara said her husband started CPR on their daughter and was later assisted by a pharmacist from a nearby chemist's. However, Sarah-Kate was unresponsive by the time that paramedics arrived at their home. Ms O'Meara revealed that they decided to donate their daughter's organs to help others after being informed by doctors at the Mater that the chances of her recovering were unlikely. In reply to questions from the coroner, Clare Keane, she said there was nothing to suggest there was anything amiss with her daughter's health in the days before her collapse. Ms O'Meara outlined how Sarah-Kate had visited the Parklands Surgery in Cork the previous month to arrange to start taking a contraceptive pill. The inquest heard she was on no other medication at the time of her death apart from an occasional protein supplement and had no history of blood clots. Ms O'Meara said Sarah-Kate had suffered from migraine for a number of years but had no longer required treatment for it since 2017. A Cork-based GP, Caroline Burke, gave evidence of prescribing Ovreena to the teenager following a detailed consultation on May 13, 2024. Dr Burke said the teenager wanted to go on the pill to lighten her periods as well as for contraceptive purposes. The doctor told the inquest that she went through the various options for contraception and a detailed set of questions that covered possible risk factors as well as checking the patient's blood pressure and weight. Dr Burke said she had discussed the patient's previous history of migraine but was reassured that she had not suffered the specific type of migraine that posed a particular risk. The inquest heard that Sarah-Kate was given a prescription for one month for Ovreena and had booked a follow-up check for one month later. Dr Burke told the coroner that Ovreena was 'the safest first line option' for the combined oral contraceptive pill. A consultant cardiologist at CUH, Gerry Fahy, told the hearing that the teenager's poor condition on arrival at the hospital had required her to be defibrillated 15 times over a 90-minute period. Dr Fahy said doctors were not aware at the time of the underlying cause of what happened and originally believed it was due to inflammation of the heart muscle before it became clearer that it could be due to blood clots. He explained that the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation – a rare condition where the blood is prone to both clotting and bleeding at the same time – which posed major challenges in providing regular treatment for clots. A consultant intensivist and anaesthetist at the Mater, Deirdre Edgeworth, gave evidence that the patient was deemed suitable for treatment with the hospital's ECMO machine – which diverts blood away from the lungs and heart – for patients with cardiac conditions that are considered reversible. A consultant cardiologist at the Mater, Katie Murphy, said Sarah-Kate had no signs of any underlying cardiac condition. Dr Murphy said the patient's cardiac function had improved with the ECMO treatment but the neurological injuries she had suffered as a result of the cardiac event had proven fatal. The cardiologist said she believed the cause of the blood clots were 'multi-factorial' including the patient's use of an oral contraceptive pill and not being as active as normal due to her studies. Dr Murphy also revealed that testing had shown Sarah-Kate had a genetic abnormality known as Factor V Leiden which placed her at an increased risk of blood clots. Recording a narrative verdict to reflect the complexity of the evidence, Dr Keane said she noted the significant finding in relation to Factor V Leiden. The coroner also observed that there was a known increased risk of blood clots with the combined oral contraceptive pill. Dr Keane reecorded that the potential side effects of the pill had been explained to the teenager and that it had been prescribed at a time when her genetic abnormality was unknown. The inquest heard that the donation of the deceased's kidneys had saved the lives of two other patients. Offering her condolences to the student's family, Dr Keane said she was so sorry 'for the heartbreaking loss of your vibrant daughter.' Ms O'Meara replied: 'It's the world's loss – not just ours. She had so much to offer.' Her family had originally sought an adjournment of the inquest after only receiving a copy of Dr Burke's deposition just before the hearing which had left them 'taken aback.' However, they decided to allow the inquest to proceed after the coroner informed them they could ask questions about any evidence.
Sunday World
13-06-2025
- Sunday World
Suspects in violent death of man in Dundalk have left country, inquest told
It is believed he was attacked on the street close to the house a short time earlier by a group of men with weapons. A number of individuals suspected of having been involved in an incident which resulted in the violent death of a man in Dundalk three years ago have left the jurisdiction, an inquest has heard. Marius Juodenas (44) was discovered with serious injuries in his home on Barrack Street, Dundalk, Co Louth shortly before 7pm on July 5, 2022. It is believed he was attacked on the street close to the house a short time earlier by a group of men with weapons. The injured man, who came originally from Lithuania, was brought by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he died on July 26, 2022 after a life support machine was turned off. Marius Juodenas Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 13 2025 The deceased man, who was known to gardai following a number of court appearances, had previously lived in a number of locations in Cavan where he held down a number of jobs for short periods but had been living in Dundalk at the time of the fatal incident. Detective Inspector Liam Donoghue told a sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court that the investigation in Mr Juodenas' murder was still ongoing. Det Insp Donoghue explained that it was 'a complex investigation' as a number of individuals believed to have been involved in his death were no longer in Ireland. He told the coroner Aisling Gannon that the investigation was 'still very much alive' with various inquiries being pursued. Det Insp Donoghue expressed hope that an investigation file could be forwarded to the DPP. He claimed a delay in the case was due to attempts to locate the people suspected of being involved in Mr Juodenas' death. Det Insp Donoghue applied for an adjournment of the inquest under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings are being considered. A murder investigation was launched by gardaí following Mr Duodenas' death three weeks after he was attacked. It is understood detectives believe the victim was attacked in a planned assault by a number of males known to him who come originally from eastern Europe. Ms Gannon granted the application and said she would adjourn the inquest for three months. The coroner said she would require a detailed update and timeline for the investigation at the next sitting of the case on September 10.
