Man died from rare condition

A 49-year-old man died from a rare nervous system disorder which his neurosurgeon had not seen for 25 years, the Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday.

Mr Sean Cannon, of Clifton Park, Shankill, died in Beaumont Hospital on March 2nd, 2001.

He had been admitted to Loughlinstown Hospital on February 28th, complaining of pins and needles. A scan found that he had a prolapsed disc. Mr Cannon underwent an operation on March 1st, which was described by consultant neurosurgeon Prof Jack Phillips as "routine". However, he had a cardiac arrest at 7.30 a.m. the following day and died.

Pathologist Prof Michael Farrell said Mr Cannon had a second condition known as Guillain-barre Syndrome. Dublin City Coroner Mr Brian Farrell said there had been a very rare concordance of two unrelated conditions. He had no choice but to find Mr Cannon died from natural causes.