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TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said he is “very concerned” about the reported circumstances around the death of a County Meath nursing home resident.
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy raised the case of 79-year-old Ultan Meehan who died in hospital just over two weeks after being admitted from the Kilbrew Nursing Home.
The Irish Times reported earlier this week Meehan was admitted to hospital with an infestation of maggots in a facial wound that the care facility was unable to manage. He had been suffering from dementia and terminal cancer.
Sage Advocacy, which represents the needs of vulnerable adults, said it was a concern that no inquiry into the matter had been launched.
Murphy told the Dáil today that Meehan’s wife, Mary Bartley Meehan “needs answers” and queried why the former Health Minister Simon Harris did not launch an investigation at the time.
“I am very concerned about that case” said Martin, stating that Meehan’s wife is “entitled to a report at the very least”.
He added that Hiqa is the regulatory body over the nursing home sector.
“The case should be reviewed,” he said, adding that he has sought an update on the case.
“It is very worrying indeed in terms of Mrs Meehan’s own experience when she visited,” he said.
He described it as a “traumatic situation” which “deserves a comprehensive response” from Hiqa. Martin said the Meehan family had been through enough anguish.
The Irish Times reported that Ultan Meehan was brought to hospital two weeks after his wife, who visited him in the home, raised concerns with staff.
Ultan Meehan’s stepson Adrian Bartley – Mrs Bartley Meehan’s son – who had Down’s syndrome and dementia, died in the same hospital earlier this year, the paper reported.
Both men had shared a room at the nursing home and both had tested positive for Covid-19.
A statement from Kilbrew Nursing Home, released to TheJournal.ie yesterday, said:
“We extend our sincere condolences to Mrs. Bartley Meehan and her family on the recent passing of both her husband Ultan and son Adrian.
“However, it is not appropriate to go into clinical detail relating to any resident or their treatment. At all times, we work to provide the best of care to every resident, who each have a dedicated GP assigned to them.
“We submitted a report to Hiqa on 25th June 2020 regarding the late Mr Meehan and await the outcome of a further review by HIQA.
“Kilbrew Nursing Home, like many others, has been under acute pressure in the midst of the pandemic and its managers and staff have and continue to work extremely hard to deliver the best in care for all of its residents.”
A statement from the former health minister to this publication said Simon Harris “was indeed very concerned about the issues highlighted by Sage, an excellent advocacy organisation. His Department made Hiqa and the HSE aware of Sage’s concerns and was assured both were following up with the family”.
Harris said officials in the Department of Health consider all such matters in detail and advise the health minister.
“Any queries pertaining to investigations or concerns should be referred to the Department of Health,” said the statement.
When questioned this morning about the case on RTÉ’s Today with Sarah McInerney, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he would not comment on individual cases.
In addition to being asked about the Meath nursing home death, Micheál Martin was also asked today about the extension of maternity leave for those who had children during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Taoiseach said a comprehensive response on the issue would be forthcoming.
Martin was also asked about Barry Cowen’s drink-driving ban, with Labour’s Alan Kelly stating the new Taoiseach’s honeymoon period appeared to have lasted about two hours.
Cowen is due to address the Dáil this evening and give a statement on the matter.
The Taoiseach said “no politician is above the law”.
With additional reporting from Dominic McGrath
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Some good news for a change..
FARCing great news.
“Obama vowed continuing support for Colombia, a key ally in the US war on drugs.”
Really Mr. Obama? Maybe have a look at your own security agencies who are up to their bloody elbows in the drugs business in Columbia and many other countries for over 70 years:
“The litany of this is a long one, with the OSS (the predecessor of the CIA) forming a strategic alliance with the Sicilian and Corsican mafia after World War II to prevent possible communist uprisings in Europe and to smash left-wing unions; the CIA’s assisting the Kuomintang with its opium trafficking operations to fund their joint anti-communist efforts in Asia; the CIA’s actual trafficking of opium out of Laos, Burma and Thailand to help fund the U.S. counter-insurgency effort in South East Asia; the CIA’s support of “the chief smugglers of Afghan opium, the anti-communist Mujahedin rebels in Afghanistan” in their efforts against the pro-Soviet government in Afghanistan, leading ultimately to Afghanistan becoming one of the largest opium suppliers in the world (a status only briefly interrupted when it was under Taliban control); and the Reagan Administration’s funding the Nicaraguan Contras (after such funding was outlawed by Congress) by, among other things, cocaine smuggling operations.
The book quotes the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP) which concludes that, today, “the biggest heroin and cocaine trading institutions in the world are the militaries of Burma, Pakistan, Mexico, Peru and Colombia – ‘all armed and trained by U.S. military intelligence in the name of anti-drug efforts.’” In the case of Colombia, while the U.S., to justify its massive counterinsurgency program, vilifies the FARC guerillas as “narco-terrorists,” this title is more befitting of the Colombian state and its paramilitary allies.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/02/16/the-u-s-war-for-drugs-of-terror-in-colombia/
Good news all the same though Wally.
Good copy/paste job Billy. Wouldn’t call counterpunch a credible source though.
Can you identify anything incorrect in the article Tadhg?
The first rule of confirmation bias – go after the source
Billy, I can see something incorrect! – YOU!!
So no dispute as to the content of the article then Tadhg? Maybe you’d prefer the Nation Security Archive blow which also outlines the U.S involvement in drug trafficking:
“This electronic briefing book is compiled from declassified documents obtained by the National Security Archive, including the notebooks kept by NSC aide and Iran-contra figure Oliver North, electronic mail messages written by high-ranking Reagan administration officials, memos detailing the contra war effort, and FBI and DEA reports. The documents demonstrate official knowledge of drug operations, and collaboration with and protection of known drug traffickers. Court and hearing transcripts are also included.”
Evidently Ronald hadn’t heard about his wife Nancy’s “Just Say No” to drugs mass media campaign during the 80s.
@ Billy Mooney : North and South Korea are still technically at war, as they only signed an armistice, not a peace treaty. So that’s a longer war than the Farc one.
I won’t quibble with you over inconsequential technicalities Niall. When I asked Tadhg if there was anything incorrect in the article I was referring to the linked counterpunch piece.
@ Billy Mooney: no problemo. I was referring to the Journal’s abysmal record of exaggeration, lousy sub-editing, or simply getting things wrong.
This seems like great news, but in reality its a Trojan horse. The Farc were established as a Communist movement, they formed the guerrilla because Colombians voted in favour of Democracy and the Communist candidates never got enough votes. They were more popular in Rural Colombia, but still not popular enough to win an election. So what do you do when you are a stubborn Communist who always looses an election? Form a Guerrilla. These people are murderers, kidnappers, drug dealers. All with the pretexts of founding “the cause” Colombia gained the fame they have is thanks to Guerrillas, they enabled drug cartels. They made travelling by land impossible, because they would engage in kidnappings even having their own checkpoints in the roads, they had total control of rural Colombia and their roads. People up to date travel mostly by air within Colombia not to get kidnapped.
Many of the people who ruined Venezuela with Chavez and Maduro are Ex-Guerrilla members. They had the most senior positions in cabinet.
What will happen in Colombia its a What happened in Venezuela, but on Steroids. These assassins will now be free and be able to run for office and fool the vulnerable poor population with false promises just like Chavez did in the 1990s, Chavez even said that “He hates Socialism, he is pro free market and these Marxists ideas are outdated” And people bought it.
Don;t get me wrong, I am anti savage capitalism and anti oligarchy, this is the other extreme. But I dare any die hard leftists Marxists pro Cuba, Pro venezuela, Pro Communism to have the b.alls to come here and defend Farcs action, to defend Communism, Cuba and Venezuela without even been there for themselves. I dare someone who has been in in these places and say that Communism is the answer.
Ok Uribe.
Very good analysis Juan. You seem to know what you’re talking about.
FARC didn’t start this conflict, the army’s attacks on civilians did.
Colombia wasn’t a democracy- it was an oligarchy where only two parties could run for office until the early 90s. It was a ‘perfect dictatorship’ like Mexico, in the hands of an elite.
What happened every time FARC tried to demobilize? It’s members were assasinated. Google the genocide of the Union Patriotica.
Worried that poor people will vote for FARC? That speaks volumes about the country- the poor are so oppressed that they might vote for the hated guerrilla over the mainstream parties.
I’m no supporter of FARC but people need to stop acting as though they’re solely responsible for the war.
The United Nations are actually doing something useful! I need to lie down.
That’s good news ☮
Fantastic news for the SF bird watching society. They can now watch some birds in Colombia without coming under undue suspicion.
Congratulations to Eamon Gilmore as well.
What about the punishment for using child soldiers by farc.
Usually govt propaganda, helps to deprive your opponents of legitimacy
The army force poor Colombians who can’t bribe their way out to fight on the frontline. FARC aren’t alone in forced recruitment.
No more Sinn Fein/ IRA training trips. Whatever will they do with their free time?
All cause of the banana war started by the US and EU
http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/01/bananas-colombian-civil-war-u-s-supreme-court/
have your say