"The Death of Paul Ryan - murder or suicide?"

On the 20th June 1999, the body of Paul Ryan was taken from the River Nore, near the Bennetsbridge Road Roundabout Kilkenny. Only weeks before, Mr. Ryan had informed his sister Anne Ryan that he had been physically attacked by a member of the nursing staff at St Canice's Hospital in Kilkenny! Internal inquiries were made into the allegations of assault on Paul Ryan, but they admonished the staff of St Canice's Hospital of all wrong doing! Ms. Anne Ryan, Paul Ryan's sister, was not happy with the conclusions of the "internal investigation" and demanded from Mr John Magner, Program Manager of the South East Health Board,an Independent" investigation into the assault charges, which she made against a member of St Canice's Hospital staff! On the 18th June 1999, Mr. Magner instructed Mr. McDonnell, the Hospital Manager for Carlow/Kilkenny, to set up an independent investigation into the charges already set out, and made it clear that Ms. Ryan should be present during the new interview with Paul Ryan and staff of St Canice's Hospital!

Two days later Paul Ryan was found in the River Nore!

Two days before a new investigation was due to be held into allegations of assault, leveled against members of staff at St Canice's Hospital!

Ms. Anne Ryan claims that her brother was not suicidal at the time of his death and she believes that foul play cannot be ruled out!

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This is the account of an independent investigation into allegations of assault on Mr. Paul Ryan, while an inpatient at St, Cannice's Hospital, Kilkenny - 10th september 1999.

Background to the holding of the investiagtions

3.1

On Sunday 16th May 1999 Ms. Anne Ryan, a sister of Mr. Paul ryan, inpatient in St. Cannices Hospital, Kilkenny advised hospital staff in the course of a visit to the hospital that she had a complaint relating to the treatment of her brother, Paul. Acting ACNO Nurse R. Kavanagh interviewed Ms. Ryan and in the course of what was described by Nurse Kavanagh, as a "series of complaints", Ms. Ryan specially complained that her brother Paul had been assaulted by Nurse Martin Meally "a few nights ago". Nurse Kavanagh advised Ms. Ryan to put the complaints in writing and communicated the complaints to the Acting CNO, Mr. Michael Kirwan..

3.2

The following day on the 17th May Mr. Kirwan questioned nursing staff on Admission A whether any complaint of assault had been made to them by Mr Ryan. On the 18th May , 1999 a letter was received by Mr Kirwan from Ms. Anne Ryan , formally notifying the SE Health Board of her complaint. This formal letter of complaint dated the 17th May referred to an incident at Admission A with nurse M. Meally and my brother Paul". No referrence was made in the letter to an assault or any associated details of same having taken place and no referrence was made in the letter to the date on which the incident was alleged to have taken place. However the letter indicated that details of the complaint had been given verbally to Ms. Kavanagh on May 16th 1999.

3.3

Following receipt of Ms. Ryan's letter Mr. Kirwan interviewed Mr. Meally in the presence of Mr. T. Brennan, SIPTU on the 18th May 1999. Mr. Kirwan recorded Mr. Meally's insistence at the meeting that he did not assault Mr. Ryan and was upset to think that Mr. Ryan made such a complaint. On the 20th May 1999 Mr. Meally , in a letter to Mr. Kirwan further reiterated "that there is absolutely no basis to this allegation which is based on her brother's delusional state." As an example of Mr. Ryan's delusional state" at that time Mr. Meally further stated that the previous night, i.e. 19th May, Mr. Ryan had accused Mr. Meally of being a trained killer hired to assassinate him.

3.4

On the 22th May 1999, Ms. Ryan wrote to Mr. Kirwan expressing surprise and annoyance that no acknowledgement had been received by her from the Board in respect of the complaint which she desrcibed in her letter as "an assault". She further stated in the letter that all information had been given to Ms. Kavanagh when the original complaint was made in the hospital on Sunday the 16th May. On that same day Ms. ryan slso wrote to Mr. J McGuinness T.D. bringing her complaint to his attention. Ms. Ryan's letter of the 22nd May is recorded as having been received by Mr. Kirwan on the 24th May 1999.

3.5

On the 24th May Mr. Kirwan and Ms. Anne Jacob, ACNO, with permission from his treating consultant Dr. N. Griffin, interviewed Mr. Paul Ryan. In the course of that interview Mr. Kirwan recorded that Mr. Ryan had felt that he had been joistled by Mr Meally one night in the recent past when he had woken up. Mr kirwan further recorded that in the course of the interview Mr. ryan had denied that he had been assaulted. That evening at 5.30pm Mr Kirwa n interviewed Nurse Della Walshe and qusetioned her as to whether there were any incidents relating to Mr Paul Ryan and Mr Meally . Ms Walshe recollected that on a recent occasion Mr Meally had saved Mr Ryan from possible serious injury by physically rushing forward to prevent MR Ryan from falling.

3.6

On the 28th May Mr Kirwan acknowledged the original letter from Ms Ryan outlining the complaint on the 18th May 1999. Ms Ryan took exception to this acknowledgement with particular regard to the absinse of any referrence to a date of the letter of complaint. On the 29th May MS Ryan also issued a letter of complaint to the Chief Executive Officier of the SE Health Board , Mr Cooney and urged Mt Cooney as CEO to investigate what was termed in the letter as a "serious complaint" which Ms Ryan felt had not been dealt with or taken seriously.

3.7

On the 2nd June 1999 Nurse Margaret O Neilll . Acting ACNO , was interviewed by Mr Kirwan and furnished with a statement referring to an incident onthe morning of Saturday 15th May between 2,30 am and 2,45 am. She stated that she observed Mr Paul Ryan , who was standing talking to Mr Meally, staggering backwards and losing his balance and that Mr Meally intervened to prevent Mr Ryan from falling. Ms O Neill also observed that Mr Ryan was uninjured following the incident and that Mr Meally escorted Mr Ryan back to bed.

3.8

On the 4th June 1999 Mr Kirwan noted by memorandum that he was satisfied that no actual assault had taken place thus concluding this internal investigation.

3.9

On the 10th June 1999 Ms Ryan wrote to Mr Magner indicating she had not received any reply to a serious complaint she had alleged. She expressed concern regarding information she had received relating to Mr Martin Meally's promotion. She also stated that there were a number of complaints made against Mr Martin Meally which she didnt specify and she requested that the SE health Board should investigate these complaints fully.

1.10

On the 11th June 1999 Mr Kirwan formally advised Ms Ryan by letter that he had fully investigated the complaint and that he was satisfied that Mr Paul ryan had not been assaulted by Mr Meally but "was actually physically prevented from falling and injuring himself by Nurse Meally\s quick reaction and supportive intervention! He further stated that the incident was witnessed by two other members of staff who felt that had Paul not been supported then he could have sustained a serious injury.

1.11

Ms Ryan responded to Mr Kirwans letter on the 14th June and stated that on the basis of discussions she had with her brother on receipt of that letter, she particularly disputed that there were three witnesses to the incident complained of. She alleged that Mr Meally was alone at the time of the assault on her brother. Ms Ryan further requested an Independent Body be set up to investigate the incident and copied this letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the Board. Ms Ryan also attached five questions for the attention of Mr Kirwan which were as follows;

1. Where did the incidents happen?

2. How many patients were present?

3. Why were three staff present as Mr Kirwan stated?

4. Whether there was a copy of a report by the nurses in question of the incident and,

5. Why was Mr Ryan interrogated without a family member being present as Ms Ryan had requested on a number of occasions?

3.12

Ms Ryan also wrote to Mr. J Magner, Program Manager, SE Health Board expressing dissatisfaction with Mr Kirwans findings and stating that this was "not the story" and that she would have to take a civil case to prove "what I have been talking about for a long time", and that a " lot of issues about this person must be addressed".

3.13

Ms Ryan wrote further to Mr Magner on the 17th June 1999, reiterating that she was not accepting Mr Kirwan's explanation outlined in his letter to her dated 11th June 1999. She also requested the names of the two staff who witnessed "the incident". She further stated that there were no other staff members present when the alleged assault took place. In a telephone discussion between Mr Magner and Ms Ryan on the 16/17th June , Ms ryan was advised that a further internal investigation was to be conducted.

3.14

Following receipt of Ms Ryans letter Mr Magner drafted a number of letters, the most relevant of which was to Mr J McDonnell, Hospital Manager, Carlow/Kilkenny Psychiatric Services requesting that Mr McDonnell carry out a further investigation of Ms Ryan's complaint. The draft letter, which was committed to dictaphone on Friday 18th June also suggested arrangements for a further interview with Mr P Ryan, with Ms Anne Ryan in attendance, subject to confirmation with Dr Griffin. Due to the tragic events that unfolded two days later on Sunday 20th June that correspondence was not issued.

3.15

On the 20th June 1999, Mr Paul Ryan was reported to have gone missing from the ward at approximately 9.30am. His car was subsequently located adjacent to the River Nore following which a search of the area was carried out. In the mid afternoon Mr Ryans body was located in the River Nore. Ms Ryan had been advised that her brother was missing and was duly informed that day of his tragic death.

3.16

Mr John A Cooney, Chief Executive Officer of the SE Health Board wrote to Ms Ryan on the 22nd June 1999 expressing his sympathy and offering the services of the Board in providing bereavement counselling. Mr Cooney also undertook to ensure that her correspondence with the Board would receive every proper attention if she wished to take up those matters again.

3.17

On the 28th June Ms Ryan returned a copy of Mr Kirwans letter of 11th June 1999 with a note to Mr Cooney requesting that the two staff who had witnessed the incident, be interviewed. Mr Cooney, in a hand written note requested Mr Magner to have the witnesses questioned outside of the St Cannices Hospital site to determine whether they had been threatened or intimidated by anyone.

3.18

Arrangements were made by Mr Magner on the 30th June for Mr McDowell , Hospital Manager , to arrange interviews for the staff members in question and to obtain written statements from these staff.

3.19

On the 6th June 1999, staff members Ms O Neill and Ms Walshe were interviewed by Mr Mc Donnell in St Dympna's Hospital, Carlow in relation to allegations made by Ms Ryan of 70 High street Kilkenny, regarding an incident involving her brother Paul while he was a patient in St Cannices Hospital, Kilkenny. They were appraised of the following prior to signing a statement relating to the allegations:

1, The very serious nature of these allegations!

2. That the SE Health Board intended to investigate these allegations to the fullestextent and that these allegations may encompass requiring the Gardai to carry out their own separate inquiry.

3. The very serious consequences of not revealing the entire truth of my recollection of the incident, these consequences to encompass disciplinary proceedings against myself up and including dismissal.

4. That fact the SE Health Board have assured me that any intimidation or attempt to intimidate me about any aspect of this alleged incident will lead to severe disciplinary measures against the perpetratorof such intimidation.

In the full knowledge of the above Ms Walshe and Ms O Neill reiterated their original statements made in May and June respectively and swore their statements in the presence of their solicitors.

3.20

On the 13th July Ms Ryan contacted the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the SE Health Board, Mr T Beegan and arranged for a telephone conversation to take place with Mr Beegan on the 14th July. In the course of a series of complaints relating to St Cannices Hospital in general and particular complaints relating to Mr Meally, Ms Ryan requested that the alleged assault on her brother be independently investigated. Mr Beegan suggested that she formalise that request in writing.

3.21

In a letter dated 14th July to Mr Beegan , Ms Ryan confirmed that she was seeking an independent investigation into an assault on her brother and complained that this alleged assault had contributed to Mr Ryans suicide. Ms Ryan further complained that her brother had been most upset by what she stated was an interrogation in the office by Mr Kirwan and Dr Griffin several days later.

3.22

Following receipt of that letter arrangements were made by the Board to assemble an independent investigation team and on the 21st July 1999 Mr Beegan confirmed the makeup of the team and details of the terms of reference to Ms Ryan.

 

 

NB. If the reader is a friend or relation of someone who has committed "suicide", and if they are "uneasy" regarding any issue, which became evident, before or after the death of their loved one, please feel free to call Ms. Anne Ryan, Kilkenny - 056 - 7721221.

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