Covid patient who left Letterkenny hospital and later returned, has died

A Covid-19 patient who left a Co Donegal hospital last week after being encouraged by anti-vaccination campaigners, has died in hospital.

Joe McCarron, aged 75, died at Letterkenny University Hospital on Friday.

Mr McCarron, who was from Dungloe, had been in hospital for a number of days after contracting the virus.

His case received widespread attention earlier this month after he was the subject of a viral video in which a group of protesters filmed his release from the hospital.

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In the video which was put up on social media, doctors are heard pleading with Mr McCarron to remain in hospital. However, the protestors tell Mr McCarron that he will die if he remains in the hospital. The protestors had claimed that Mr McCarron was being forced into the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.

Mr McCarron was released but was taken back into hospital two days later on Thursday last after having severe breathing difficulties.

He was initially put on a ventilator and had been showing signs of improving.

However, his condition deteriorated in recent days and he died on Friday.

Mr McCarron’s family had last week criticised those who helped to take him out of the hospital while he was in such a vulnerable condition.

A family spokesman said after he returned to hospital last week that Mr McCarron's wife Una wanted to apologise to the hospital staff for what had happened and criticised those who helped remove Joe from hospital as "reckless."

“They did not help Joe’s recovery in any way. We would encourage everyone to follow proper medical advice,” he said.

Even the Taoiseach Mr Martin had last week commented on the matter lsaying "if you get it (Covid-19), you should treat it as very serious.

“Certainly, it is outrageous that anyone would, in an ill-informed way, be advising people to leave hospital. It endangers that person’s health.”

Details of Mr McCarron’s funeral have not yet been released.