An inquest into the death of a schizophrenic man in a psychiatric hospital 13 years ago reopened tonight after a staff nurse came forward to gardai calling for a further inquiry.
Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, heard a fresh garda inquiry into the death of Nicholas Murphy (38) from Dublin's Dundrum, was initiated in 2002 after a complaint was lodged with gardai by nurse Padraig O'Reilly.
The inquest heard contradicting evidence from nursing staff at Vergemount Hospital in Dublin's Clonskeagh, where Mr Murphy died on December 7, 1992, and gardai who had attended the hospital after reports of difficulties restraining a violent patient.
Three gardai - Sgt John Moore, Det Gda Donal O'Meara and Det Gda Ger Quinn - told the court they responded to a call at around 8.30am and were later present when an injection was administered after the man was restrained face down in garda handcuffs on the bed.
The gardai said the restraints were removed after a short time and they were not aware of any resuscitation attempts or difficulties with the patient's breathing before they left the hospital.
However, nursing staff said the last medication was ordered and given at around 8.30am in a different location and nothing else was administered to Mr Murphy before his death after 9am.
After a statement from Mr O'Reilly was read to the court, he asked for it to be withdrawn as he claimed it was prepared on behalf of him at the time and he was upset and would not have been in a proper state of mind to make it.
No medical evidence was given to the court during today's sitting on the cause of Mr Murphy's death, however, Mr O'Reilly said he had been told that it was due to drug interaction.
PA