Gardaí in Drogheda, Co Louth, say a file will be prepared for the DPP in relation to an 80-year-old man who died yesterday, a week after a member of staff in a geriatric hospital allegedly assaulted him.
It has been alleged that Robert (Bertie) Bellew was assaulted by an employee in St Mary's Hospital, Drogheda, on September 5th. Gardaí have taken statements from a number of people including the person accused of the assault.
Mr Bellew had been a patient in the hospital for the past five years. The postmortem by assistant State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis took place yesterday afternoon; it is understood to indicate he died from natural causes.
Despite the findings of the postmortem, however, gardaí said their investigation would continue and they would forward a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a statement the Health Service Executive North East said it was "aware of an alleged incident in St Mary's Hospital, Drogheda, and both the HSE and the gardaí are investigating allegations, and a member of staff has been removed from duty pending these investigations".
Mr Bellew's widow, Iris, speaking from the home they shared in Drogheda for more than 30 years, said he was "a very kindly person", who on the whole was very happy in St Mary's Hospital.
The allegation is understood to be that he was punched by a male member of staff. Sources confirmed that another member of staff who witnessed the incident reported it to gardaí.
Mr Bellew, who would have been 81 next month, had a heart attack 10 years ago.
Until five years ago he was cared for at home by his wife. She last saw him alive in St Mary's Hospital on Monday evening of last week, when she gave him his tea.
At about 3am the following morning she received a call to go to the Lourdes hospital. Later that day she was told by the HSE about the alleged assault.
Mrs Bellew looked tired and pale when she spoke to the press yesterday. Nevertheless, she recalled that they had met and married in the 1950s, and lived in Britain and Canada before returning to Louth in the 1970s.
She said: "Bertie loved all sport on the television but never took part in it. He loved the television."
She was accompanied by a family friend, who added: "He always had a twinkle in his eye and loved the ladies! He had a bed by the window in St Mary's and could see the cars coming in."