SO HELPLESS
Parents of teen who killed brother before taking his own life settle case with HSE
THE family of a teen who murdered his nine-year-old brother before killing himself have begged people with mental health problems to get help.
Troubled Shane Skeffington Jnr was discharged from a facility two months before the double tragedy on July 20, 2014.
His parents Shane and Carmel, from Sligo, had sued the HSE for negligence and breach of duty, claiming it would not have happened had there been better treatment for their son, allegations which were denied.
They settled their High Court action yesterday but the terms are confidential.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross was told by Eoin Mccullough, SC, that it was a very tragic case where Shane Jnr stabbed his brother and then killed himself.
He had previously been a patient at a mental health facility.
SHOPPING
The court had heard the parents, who have three other children, returned from a grocery shopping trip to their Tourlesrane, Sligo, home to discover their eldest son, 19, who was on babysitting duty, stabbed his younger brother Brandon to death with a knife.
The young man then took his own life.
When the Skeffingtons left the house at 4pm, Shane Jnr was playing with his brother in their shared bedroom.
When they returned three hours later, they found Brandon lying on his back at the top of the stairs.
His father performed resuscitation and continued it for 45 minutes.
Mr Skeffington found his son Shane Jnr in the shed adjacent to the home .
He was on the ground and had taken his own life. On arrival at hospital, both were pronounced dead.
It was claimed there was an alleged failure to take care of Shane Jnr when he was in Saint Columba’s Hospital, Sligo in May 2014.
He had been allegedly discharged on leave with absence on May 20 considering him to be of “no immediate risk of harm to self or others”.
Clinical notes, it was claimed, allegedly recorded him as being aggressive towards a member of nursing staff that same day.
It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to complete a formal risk assessment prior to granting leave and
YESTERDAY
discharge from Saint Columba’s Hospital and an alleged failure to provide any adequate follow up for Shane Jnr.
It was further claimed he had been discharged from the mental health system on May 28/29 when allegedly there had been no examination by a psychiatrist or a medical practitioner since his discharge on leave of absence.
Mrs Skeffington, it was claimed, is constantly under a dark shadow and is deeply traumatised by the events.
Her husband also continues to suffer from anxiety and grief and suffers from continuously disturbed sleep patterns. All the claims were denied.
Approving the settlements, Mr Justice Cross sympathised with the family and said it was a sad and tragic case.
The settlement was made without liability.
Outside the Four Courts yesterday, Ciaran Tansey, solicitor for the Skeffingtons, said it was a tragic case and the family hope now to draw the matter to a close.
He added: “As far as Carmel and Shane are concerned, they love their children enormously. They are their beloved Shane Michael and Brandon.
“And they will forever remain so. Unfortunately the trauma will live with the family for the rest of their lives.”
Mrs Skeffington insisted the public need to be better educated when it comes to mental health issues.
“My message to people with mental health problems is to get help, and to keep going until you get the help.”
■ The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123.
The trauma will remain with the family for the rest of their lives CIARAN TANSEY