Barrister took his own life in St John of God’s
‘Close eye will be kept on him,’ wife says she was told
A BARRISTER took his own life while staying at the St John of God’s psychiatric hospital, an inquest has heard.
Colm O’Briain, 48, a barrister from Sandymount in Dublin 4 had become acutely stressed after losing a case around ten days before his death on May 25, 2016.
He told doctors that he’d made a mistake at work and was fearful his client would take legal action against him. He was fearful about the outcome this may have on his professional and financial situation and on his family, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard.
Mr O’Briain, a senior counsel and leading member of the criminal bar, appeared at many criminal trials during the course of his career. During evidence in May, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane was told that Mr O’Briain lost a significant amount of weight in a short period following the incident at work. Family members became concerned. On May 22, 2016, three days before his death, he discussed the situation at length with his wife.
He’d gone to training as a GAA coach that Sunday morning and when he came back he told his wife he wanted to talk. They went for a long walk on the beach and she described his frame of mind as ‘completely preoccupied with work’. He visited a GP the following day and told how he’d lost his appetite and was having difficulty sleeping.
‘He was having sleepless nights, ruminating over the problem and admitted to having suicidal thoughts since this episode at work had begun,’ GP Dr Suzanne Walsh said in her deposition.
The doctor prescribed sleeping pills and the anti-anxiety medication Xanax. However, Mr O’Briain remained consumed with worry over the issue at work and family and friends became increasingly concerned. Close family members described him as ‘completely changed,’ with a ‘blackness over him.’
During a third day of evidence yesterday, the inquest heard that on the day of his admission to St John of God’s hospital on May 24, 2016, Mr O’Briain told his wife Bernadette Kirby he had written a note which he had left at home. Ms Kirby relayed this information to a St John of God’s staff member but this did not alter his risk profile, the court heard.
Ms Kirby said she was told staff would ‘keep a close eye’ on him. ‘When I left he was in the care of the hospital, he was to be looked after. He was to have a good night’s sleep, then therapy and I’d have my husband back,’ she said. ‘My sister-in-law and I had not left him alone that morning because I was frightened what would happen. I was told a close eye would be kept on him, that’s what I expected,’ she said.
Shortly after midnight, Mr O’Briain was found in a collapsed state in his room at St John of God’s and an ambulance was called at 12.11am. He was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The jury returned a verdict of suicide and recommended that consideration be given to removing personal items from patients that could be used to self-harm on admission such as ties and belts. The jury further recommended that consideration be given to creating a standardised list of personal property on admission.
A legal representative confirmed the family is taking a civil action in relation to the case.