Family of man killed in psychiatric ward stabbing seeks review

The family of a man who died after he was stabbed on a psychiatric hospital ward has called for an independent review of the incident.

James McGrane (73), of College Park, Terenure, Dublin 6, was stabbed by a patient suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the HSE run psychiatric facility at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital in Tallaght on May 11th, 2010.

Returning a unanimous verdict of unlawful killing, the jury at an inquest into his death recommended a review of day leave for psychiatric patients.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he would write to the board of the hospital and to the HSE in relation to the jury’s recommendation.

Mr McGrane’s spine was severed in the attack, which left him in a paraplegic state with limited movement in his arms and no feeling in his legs. The married father of six died seven months later.

Speaking after the inquest, family members welcomed the jury’s verdict and called for a full independent inquiry into the stabbing incident.

‘No faith’

Mr McGrane’s daughter Audrey O’Farrell said the family had no communication “in any form” with the HSE since the incident and had no faith in the HSE.

“We are calling for a full independent inquiry by an independent body. We have absolutely no faith in the HSE,” Ms O’Farrell said.

Mr McGrane was stabbed with a steak knife purchased by another patient, named as Patient A, at an Argos outlet just hours before the incident.

Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said the cause of death was principally due to heart disease and pneumonia with the stab wound as a contributory factor.

The knife injury had precipitated or accelerated Mr McGrane’s heart problems, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard.

Since the stabbing incident, access to the Rowan ward where the stabbing took place has been reduced with the door kept permanently locked along with the presence of a security guard.

Patients are granted leave on a case by case basis, the court heard, as they were prior to the stabbing incident on the ward.