An elderly Dublin woman who fell at home and was not discovered until nearly two weeks later survived on holy water and biscuits, an inquest has heard. The woman was estranged from her family and was finally discovered by a neighbour when she returned home from holidays to 20 messages from her elderly friend.
The woman was taken to St James's Hospital and died from medical complications arising from the fall 17 days later.
Mary O'Reilly (77), Old County Road, Crumlin, told hospital staff that she had been lying on the floor for much of the time following the fall, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday. She died of septicaemia and pneumonia, complications of a hip fracture she sustained in the fall, on June 17th, 2004.
Maureen Whelan told the inquest that on returning from Birmingham, "there were 20 messages saying she couldn't get out of bed and could I come and help her. She said she couldn't get out of bed for three days and she'd been drinking holy water and biscuits She'd had the fall a while before."
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said that gardaí had informed his office that Ms O'Reilly had sustained the fall on May 20th, 11 days before she was discovered by her neighbour. He recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. "She seems to have been at home for several days before it was realised and she was treated," he told the court.
Ms Whelan went to her neighbour's home immediately after she received the phone messages and discovered her upstairs in bed. She then called an ambulance. Dr Farrell said that Garda reports from the hospital staff stated that Ms O'Reilly told the authorities she was "lying on the floor for a number of days" before making it into bed and being discovered.
Ms O'Reilly had sustained a hip fracture and was also suffering from dehydration when she was admitted to hospital, Dr Farrell said.
Ms Whelan told the inquest that her neighbour had been estranged from her family for many years. "She asked me not to tell her family if she died. But it was taken out of my hands," she said.
Ms O'Reilly's family attended the hospital following her admittance, she said, but she formally identified her neighbour's body following her death.
"I'd just like to say that through the later years she wasn't a happy person. I hope she's happy now," she told the court.
Dr Farrell said Ms O'Reilly's family was made aware that the inquest was being held yesterday but did not attend: "We've been in touch with the family but they're not represented here this morning."
Ms Whelan described her neighbour as an active person, but said she had fallen in the past. "She was always on the go. She wasn't an individual to go to the doctor a lot. But I was very surprised when she died."