Father tells inquest he was “forever thankful” that his deceased daughter’s organs gave life to three people

THE father of a 42-year-old woman who died from anoxic brain injury and cardiac arrest after taking cocaine told her inquest he was “forever thankful” he had a daughter who restored life to three other people because of her organ donation.

The inquest into the death of Amanda O’Dowd (42), of 8 Church View, Boyle, Co, Roscommon, held in Sligo courthouse on Monday returned a verdict of misadventure. It recorded she died at Sligo University Hospital on July 9, 2018, from anoxic brain injury secondary to cardiac arrest related to cocaine ingestion. Ms O’Dowd’s father, Brendan O’Dowd, told the inquest: “Amanda was a wonderful daughter, her passing has left a hole which will never be filled.

“I wish to thank the gardaí for their investigation into her passing. There are certain questions which will never be answered.

“Thank God I’ve had such a daughter who has restored life to three other people because of her organ donation and I am forever thankful for having such a daughter.”

Coroner Eamon MacGowan concurred with Mr O’Dowd saying: “Amanda has given organs and life to three people – that is some achievement.”

The coroner’s opinion was that the death was due to anoxic brain injury secondary to cardiac arrest related to cocaine ingestion. He guided the jury in relation to a verdict of accidental death or one of misadventure pressing upon them to record a verdict of misadventure saying it was defined as an intentional act with a fatal outcome, and certainly not an accident.

He said CPR was administered 15 minutes after cardiac arrest. Her urine tested positive for cocaine and there was no evidence of brain stem function. She was a very healthy woman with mild congestion on both lungs. And on July 10, a transplant of three of her organs was carried out. He referred to the NoWDOC GP, Dr Kilgannon’s report that said the patient collapsed at a neighbour’s house and was taken to Sligo University Hospital where she arrested in ICU. It was likely cocaine caused the cardiac arrest and subsequent anoxic brain injury, and this was the cause of death.

The inquest heard depositions from Ms O’Dowd’s father, sister, and cousin’s partner as well as from three paramedics and three gardaí who attended on the fatal night.

Damien Casserly, in his deposition said he went to the pub for a couple of drinks after he finished work on July 4, 2018. After 9pm, Ms O’Dowd collected him from the pub and brought him home. She had wanted to talk to him about her brother who was sleeping rough in a graveyard and had been there with him before she collected Mr Casserly.

They were discussing what they could do with him and about trying to get him assessed and into hospital, and she appeared very concerned about her brother, Mr Casserly said: “She was sitting at the kitchen table talking to me. I rang Boyle Garda Station and spoke to Garda Peter Lennon looking for advice. We then contacted NoWDOC at 22.38hrs. She had given them her details but seemed unable to answer all the relevant questions so I took the phone from her and gave NoWDOC the rest of the information they required. We were waiting to hear back from the doctor in NoWDOC, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Amanda seemed stressed having to wait for this call.

“While Amanda was sitting down, she appeared upset and tired and had her eyes closed as if she was sleepy. “She wasn’t talking much and kept looking tired. I made her a coffee and put food on which she seemed to pick at. She then leaned forward with her head and arms on the table and was snoring. The snoring became lighter and then stopped.

“I put my daughter’s nightgown on the kitchen floor and placed Amanda on it in the recovery position. I rang 999 at 12.27am and the operator talked me through performing CPR and to keep an eye out as the ambulance was going to be with her shortly.

“The ambulance arrived within minutes and the ambulance personnel took over. They were working on Amanda for half an hour to three quarters of an hour before removing her to Sligo Hospital. After the ambulance had left, NoWDOC were also here, and a patrol car arrived and I spoke to them.”

Mr Casserly told the coroner he never saw Ms O’Dowd taking cocaine and “definitely not” at his house. Ms O’ Dowd’s sister, Joanne O’Dowd, in her deposition recalled as she left Mr Casserly’s house on the night in question, her sister said to her: “I’m sorry Joanne, I’m sorry”. Having returned home, she was just getting into bed when she got a call from Mr Casserly saying he had called for an ambulance for her sister.

The jury returned a verdict of misadventure saying Ms O’Dowd died from anoxic brain injury secondary to cardiac arrest related to cocaine ingestion. Putting a rider or condition to their verdict they said: “The fact that Amanda donated her organs so that three other people could benefit should be a source of comfort to her family. And that three other people are alive today because of her signing an organ donation form, part of Amanda lives on today.”

Mr MacGowan extended his sympathy to Ms O’Dowd’s son, parents Pat and Brendan and siblings. Sergeant Derek Butler also sympathised with the O’Dowd family on behalf of An Garda Síochána.