Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Donegal Covid cranks probed after urging tragic Joe to quit hospital
Investigation into ‘dangerous’ protesters after 75-yr-old death
A GARDA probe has been launched into an incident where anti-vaccine campaigners convinced a Covid-19 patient, who later died, to leave hospital.
Joe McCarron, 75, passed away on Friday at Letterkenny Hospital in Co Donegal after he lost his fight with the killer virus.
A video was circulated last week after Covid cranks visited him in hospital on Tuesday, September 14, and convinced him to leave against the advice of medics.
Two days later he was taken to ICU with severe breathing difficulties and put on a ventilator.
He had been showing signs of improvement, however his condition deteriorated during the week and he passed away on Friday.
Yesterday, Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond slammed the anti-vaxxers as “dangerous”.
He said: “People who claimed they were helping this poor man were doing the exact opposite.
“They were harming him. Sadly he’s no longer with us.
“It really highlights the level of depravity out there amongst the antivax and anti-science community.
“Covid-19 is a vicious killer virus, it’s not a hoax, it’s not the flu.”
INVESTIGATION
The Sunday Mirror has learned a Garda probe is underway to examine a number of incidents at Letterkenny Hospital, including that involving Mr McCarron.
A senior investigating officer has been appointed to head up the investigation.
A Garda spokesman added: “An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time.”
Deputy Richmond last night welcomed the probe.
He added: “It’s awfully sad, it’s awfully sad for the deceased but also for his family.”
“It shows how dangerous the antivaxx, anti-science movement is – how aggressive they are with healthcare staff, filming them live and threatening.
“We are lucky in this country that we don’t have too much of that, we have a high uptake of vaccines.
“People have been so good in following public health advice, the protests have been small and limited, albeit quite violent.”
Yesterday morning, former Justice Minister Alan Shatter called for clarity regarding what happened.
He said: “My condolences to the family of Joe McCarron who died yesterday in Letterkenny Hospital.
“Gardai should clarify whether his being wrongly encouraged by third parties, contrary to medical advice, to leave the hospital is the subject of a Garda investigation.”
Just days before his death, Mr McCarron’s wife posted on social media: “Please pray for my husband, he has brain damage, still in coma after Covid.”
Angry friends of Mr McCarron, from Dungloe in Co Donegal, yesterday slammed those who coaxed him out of hospital despite doctors’ warnings he could die.
One said: “There’s blood on your hands and karma will be visiting you.” Mr McCarron’s funeral will take place today.
His remains will be removed from his home for funeral Mass in St Crona’s Church, Dungloe, at 12 noon before being buried in Maghery Cemetery. The RIP notice adds: “Due to Covid, house is private please.”
His family last night pleaded for mourners not to call to the family home at Diamond, Dungloe, because of fears from coronavirus.
Hundreds of messages of sympathy have poured in for the late Mr McCarron on social media following his death. Mr McCarron had been in hospital for a number of days after contracting the virus.
His case received national and international attention when antivaccine protesters encouraged him to sign himself out of the hospital.
Taoiseach Mr Martin slammed the removal of Mr McCarron from hospital.
Speaking before his death, he said: “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.”
The protesters had claimed Mr McCarron was being forced into the Intensive Care Unit to be put into an induced coma for no good reason. One of the group, including an Italian national Antonio Mureddu Gravegliu,
of the so-called Freedom on the Land Movement, filmed Mr McCarron’s release from the hospital.
In the video, widely shared on social media, doctors are heard pleading with the pensioner to remain in hospital. However, the protestors tell him he will die if he remains in the hospital. Mr McCarron was released but was taken back into hospital two days later after having severe breathing difficulties.
He was initially put on a ventilator and had been showing signs of improving. Despite that, his condition deteriorated in recent days and he passed away on Friday. Mr McCarron’s family had slammed those who helped take him out of the hospital while he was in such a vulnerable condition. A family spokesman said Joe’s wife Una wanted to apologise to the hospital staff for what had happened.
The spokesman added: “Una would like to thank the staff and apologise for the actions of Joe’s so-called reckless friends earlier in the week.
“They did not help Joe’s recovery in any way. We would encourage everyone to follow proper medical advice.”
The Saolta Hospital Group, which runs Letterkenny Hospital, said it could not comment on individual cases.
In a previous statement it stated it was “gravely concerned” by recent incidents at two different hospital sites where activists attempted to spread disinformation about Covid-19.
It said: “Saolta has grave concerns about the impact of this type of activity on both patients and staff.”