Witness describes how man told him to ring 999 and then jumped into river

A witness told an inquest on Wednesday how a man told him to ring an ambulance before jumping to his death in the River Shannon.

John Powell, from Nenagh, told gardaí he was on his phone, sitting in a parked car on George's Quay, Limerick, when a man tapped on his window and told him he was going to jump into the river. "He asked me to dial 999 and that he was going to jump in," Mr Powell said.

Evidence was heard on Wednesday afternoon at Limerick Coroners Court at the inquest into the death of John Paul O’Callaghan, (36), with an address at St Patrick’s Hostel, Limerick.

Mr Powell, who attended the inquest in a wheelchair, “reached out” to Mr O’Callaghan, but said he “couldn’t get to him”.

Mr Powell said he shouted at Mr O’Callaghan: “Don’t”.

He added: “There was nothing I could do.”

Mr O’Callaghan climbed over railings and “dropped” into the river, Mr Powell told gardaí.

The incident occurred around 3.15pm on November 25th, 2015.

“He was wearing a woolly hat and a jacket, and he spoke with a Limerick accent. I’d never met him before that point,” Mr Powell said.

Garda Seán O’Hagan, Henry Street Garda Station, said Mr O’Callaghan’s body was taken from the river at O’Callaghan Strand and transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick, where he was pronounced dead around 4.30pm.

The inquest heard Mr O’Callagan sustained cuts to the right side of his forehead in the jump.

Coroner Dr Timothy Casey said "an open verdict is probably best, as no one knows what triggered off this final act by John Paul O'Callaghan".

Mr O’Callaghan’s family and Mr Powell embraced each other after the verdict was read out.

* If you, or someone you know, needs someone to talk to, contact Samaritans on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org; www.yourmentalhealth.ie has a directory of mental health services.