A landmark inquest which has been listed for hearing on 22 occasions was again adjourned yesterday because a key medical witness was unavailable to attend.
Stephen Keeler (28) from Rossmore Drive, Ballyfermot, died suddenly on July 10th, 2002, after attending his GP and three Dublin hospitals over a three-day period. Mr Keeler had slight pneumonia but Dublin city coroner Dr Brian Farrell said there was also a question about a stab wound he received six months earlier and the connection between a bleeding lung and the development of pneumonia.
The inquest was first listed for hearing in February 2004. It was initially delayed after Mr Keeler's family mounted a legal challenge to the 1962 Coroner's Act to allow more than two medical experts to give evidence at an inquest. Their action helped to pave the way for a change in the Act.
The inquest finally got under way on December 7th last year but was abandoned after it emerged that two jurors knew the deceased man's family.
More adjournments followed but it was understood that all witnesses would be ready to attend yesterday's hearing. However, it then emerged that Dr Geoff Keye, an A&E consultant at Tallaght hospital, would not be available.
Dr Keye treated Mr Keeler and gave evidence at the abandoned December hearing. The coroner, Dr Farrell, said he understood that Dr Keye would not be available "for some months". He said he could not establish a reason for his unavailability but it was thought that the consultant was in the UK.
Dr Farrell proposed taking evidence from the other witnesses yesterday and then taking Dr Keye's evidence at a later date but this was objected to by Kerida Naidoo BL, for Mr Keeler's family.
Mr Naidoo said there were "practical risks" in taking evidence in a piecemeal fashion. It would be difficult for a jury to retain technical and medical evidence in their minds for a lengthy period of time and it could be difficult to assemble the same jury at an unknown date in the future.
Mr Naidoo said Mr Keeler's family were "extremely annoyed" at the delay and Dr Farrell said he too was "disappointed and frustrated" at the way events had unfolded. In accordance with the family's wishes, he adjourned the inquest for mention on May 9th. If Dr Keye was still unavailable to attend, then alternative arrangements would be made, Dr Farrell said.
Dr Farrell said the inquest had been "troubled" by many occurrences and he was "very mindful" of the distress of the family. "I don't want any family to go away from here feeling that justice hasn't been done," he said.
Stephen Keeler, a father of one, first attended his GP, Dr Eugene O'Connell, on July 8th, 2002, complaining of breathlessness and chest pain.
He was seen by doctors in Tallaght hospital, St James' Hospital, and the Mater hospital before returning to St James's Hospital where he died on July 10th.
