Mental health service apologises to family of man (25) who died by suicide

A mental health service has unreservedly apologised for the standard of care provided to a 25-year-old who died by suicide.

Jamie Costello was taken from the water on the coast of Co Clare on October 1st, 2019. His family yesterday settled High Court actions for nervous shock against the HSE over what happened.

Around the time of his death, Mr Costello was a voluntary patient at University Hospital Galway’s acute mental health unit.

It was claimed that the student suffered from complex mental health problems including depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder. He was admitted to the unit in Galway twice in 2019.

Although he was a voluntary patient, his movements were restricted and he was only allowed to leave when with his family or occupational therapists.

It was claimed he was treated with a variety of medications and psychological interventions but he remained symptomatic and continued to intermittently express thoughts of hopelessness and suicidal ideation. At the time of his death, Mr Costello was due to be assessed at a specialist unit in London.

Contrary to instructions

On September 30th, 2019, he left the unit on his own for an hour, which was claimed to be contrary to the instructions of his consultant psychiatrist. The next day he again left the unit, and it was claimed there was no satisfactory explanation of how Mr Costello was able to leave on consecutive days without the agreement of his clinician and that the care provided to him on September 30th and October 1st, 2019 was of an unacceptable standard.

It was further claimed that had Mr Costello been afforded adequate care on those days he would not have taken his own life and would have gone to London hospital as planned.

A letter of apology from Steve Jackson, general manager of Mental Health Services Community Healthcare West, was read to the High Court on Tuesday.

The letter to Mr Costello’s parents, Dr Alan Costello and Denise Costello, of Ballinduff, Cornadulla, Co Galway, was on behalf of Galway Roscommon Mental Health Services.

‘Deep effect’

“On behalf of the service, I wish to unreservedly apologise to you and all of the members of your family for the standard of care delivered to your late son, Mr Jamie Costello, which was not to the standard our services would believe was appropriate,” it said. “We understand that this apology cannot negate the deep effect the loss of your son has had on your lives.”

Jonathan Kilfeather SC, for the family, said three nervous shock actions taken by Jamie’s relatives and one over his death had been settled on confidential terms.It was claimed that the lives of the Costello family were torn apart by Jamie’s tragic and untimely death.

Noting the settlements, Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his deepest sympathy to the Costello family.

If you are affected by any issue in this article, contact:

[ Pieta House ]

[ Samaritans ]