Members of a Sligo family who were terrified when an escaped psychiatric patient broke into their home lost their action against the North Western Health Board at Sligo Circuit Court yesterday.
Mr Kenneth Coggins, Shannon Eighter, Rathbraughan, told the court he had to hit the intruder on the head with a poker, restrain him in a headlock grip, and put his foot on his throat during the incident in October 1994.
Mr Coggins told the court that the man, who had been admitted to the nearby St Columba's Psychiatric Hospital earlier in the day, broke into his house through a bedroom window after escaping from the hospital, where he had been watching television with other patients.
Mr Coggins, who had a previous nervous disposition and, was traumatised after the incident, said he was concerned for the safety of himself, his wife and 10 year old child, who were also in the house at the time. He said the man was "hysterical" and wanted a knife to kill him and then kill himself.
Mr Pat Benson, chief nursing officer with Sligo Mental Health Services, told the court the patient did not cause any major concern after being admitted to the hospital. There was "nothing to indicate that he would do this kind of thing".
Judge Michael White said he was satisfied that Dr Seamus Geraghty, consultant psychologist at St Columba's Hospital, had discharged a duty of care to the patient of the highest standards.