A PRIEST who cycled everywhere and was “physically strong” died four years after he was diagnosed with Legionnaires disease, an uncommon illness caused by a bacteria found in contaminated water sources such as swimming pools, jacuzzis and showers.
Fr Herman Nolan (78), Mount Argus, Dublin, died at his home on November 11th, 2009.
An inquest heard Fr Nolan was never the same after he was diagnosed with Legionnaires pneumonia in 2005 and suffered with shortness of breath.
Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard Fr Nolan was admitted to St James’s Hospital in July 2005 with a chest infection. His condition deteriorated and within three to four weeks, he was in the high-dependency unit.
He was in an induced coma for a few months and was discharged from hospital in late 2006.
Legionnaires disease is a type of pneumonia that was named after an outbreak of severe pneumonia that affected a meeting of the American Legion in 1976. It is an uncommon but serious disease caused by a bacterium called legionella pneumophila.
People catch it by inhaling small droplets of water, suspended in the air, which contain the bacteria. Legionellabacteria are widespread in nature, mainly living in natural waters such as rivers and ponds.
Outbreaks occur from exposure to legionellagrowing in purpose-built systems where the water is maintained at a temperature high enough to encourage growth, for example cooling towers, spa pools and hot water systems.
The water systems at Mount Argus, where Fr Herman lived, and at the Morning Star hostel where he worked, were examined, but nothing was found.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell recorded a narrative verdict, a summary of the facts of the case.