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A POST-MORTEM EXAM will be carried out on the body of 8-year-old Anthony Ward in Cork this morning.
The young schoolboy was found dead in his bed by Gardaí and family members after an alarm was raised by his mother Diane yesterday morning. He had been due to start back in third class at this local primary school just minutes prior to the tragic discovery.
State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster arrived at the scene Monday afternoon but the examination will begin this morning, Gardaí told TheJournal.ie.
Last night, the Health Service Executive said, “as with all serious incidents such as this”, it was committed to undertaking a “comprehensive review of its involvement” with the Ward family. It added:
HSE South, Console (24 hour freephone helpline number 1800 201 890) and other agencies will provide appropriate support, assistance and counselling to those affected by the incident.
Images of Anthony’s father Mark Ryan have appeared across newspapers this morning as he is comforted by friends and family outside the Harrison Place home in Charleville, where he kept a vigil for hours yesterday.
Diane Ward, Anthony’s 43-year-old mother, remains in Cork University Hospital where she is still being treated.
Although Gardaí have said they are treating the death as a ‘tragic incident’, they are investigating all circumstances.
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RIP little one. How heartbreaking. The poor little mite. Thoughts go out to his poor parents & that they find the strength to cope some how.
Such a sad story, if the HSE had concerns in the past why did they not act sooner? Such a waste of a life and the HSE have a lot to answer for
Without knowing the specifics of this case, it sounds like the boy may have died in his sleep, (IE: cardiac issues). Can we please hold the HSE bashing until after p/m results are released?
RIP Little Man, RIP.
Blaming James o Reilly is pathetic. Using this tragedy as a little political football is disgusting. The family, regardless of circumstance deserve more.
Only going on hearsay but it looks like there may be mental health problems involved and if so then I’m not surprised that the HSE’s systems have failed, we’ve seen it happen time and again. Such a tragedy.
Hearsay is a dangerous thing Fon. Imagine it were untrue? Heaping more pain on this family at a time of immense tragedy. Necessary???
Comments based on press release from the HSE stating they are familiar with the family as they have been monitoring them ….. Obviously not week enough I think
of course it’s ultimately his job,he takes the huge salary and benefits to run the health service,if theres failings collectively or individually within the hse it ultimately falls in his lap in my opinion,he’s as bad as Harney and she was dreadful
Terrible thing to happen. Hope the family get the support they need. x
Comments based on press release from the HSE stating they are familiar with the family as they have been monitoring them ….. Obviously not week enough I think
I don’t know the specifics of this tragic incident and face it, neither does anyone else commenting on this page. Reading between the lines, yes mental health issues may well have been a factor. However, we don’t know what the HSE involvement with the family was before the death of the child and what other factors were at play.
It may well be the case that there was a failure of HSE systems or it could be the case that the standard of care was high and it was an unpreventable tragic outcome.
To suggest otherwise is unfair on all those concerned.
I think all managers should be responsible for employees in their company, otherwise why have them? If they can’t do the job, there’s plenty out there that can.
tragic,the poor little lad,if the hse are found to be at fault then James Reilly has blood on his hands
Really? Is James Reilly supposed to be personally monitoring EVERY employee in the HSE to see they do their jobs right? I’m no fan of his but you can’t seriously expect him to be held responsible for everything that goes on.
I read that he died of asphyxiation.
Front page of some newspaper this morning said the police are treating the death as suspicious. It always makes it so much more horrendous and heartbreaking. God love his little soul x
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