An officer at Wheatfield Prison in Co Dublin died from a heart attack brought on while he was restraining a violent inmate, an inquest jury has been told. Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday that Mr Michael Snee (42), from Clonsilla, Co Dublin, had severe coronary artery disease and had complained of chest pains.
Mr Snee, who was married with two children, collapsed while he was helping to carry a disruptive prisoner, Gerry Duffy, out of a recreation area on June 5th last.
Mr Snee's colleagues told the court that Duffy, who appeared to have been drinking, had overturned a table and thrown a carton of boiling hot water at staff.
Duffy wanted another inmate to be released from his cell, where he had been locked after staff discovered him drunk and with a gallon of illicit prison alcoholic brew.
As Mr Snee and other prison officers were carrying Duffy away, they slipped and fell.
One officer, Mr Michael Dempsey, said that after the fall Mr Snee's face was purple and his breathing was shallow. Prison staff administered emergency first aid and Mr Snee was brought by ambulance to hospital.
Ms Mary Snee said her husband had visited his GP last January after complaining of chest pains on Christmas Day. He was told to get blood tests, which he "didn't get around to".
The State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, said Mr Snee died from acute disturbance of the rhythm of his heart brought on by acute exertion.
The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.