This article is from page 16 of the 2013-11-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE Clare county coroner is to write to the health services in Clare to highlight a family’s call for closer coordination between services and doctors involved in the treatment of addicts. Isobel O’Dea was speaking on Tuesday after returning an open verdict at the inquest of a “bright and gifted” 41-year-old Dublin man found dead in Ennis earlier this year.
Gardaí discovered the body of retired physiotherapist Oliver MacNamara at the Abbeyfield apartments, Francis Street, Ennis, on March 18.
The inquest heard Mr MacNamara, who also had an address at Ard Haven, Springhill Tramore, Waterford, had been addicted to prescription drugs and attended Narcotic’s Anonymous. He had also took medication for chronic back pain. Shannon town based GP, Dr Michael Flynn told the inquest he issued a monthly prescription for pain medication to Mr MacNamara on March 15. After questions from the deceased’s sister, Geraldine MacNamara, Dr Flynn said, “I wasn’t aware he was dependent on the stuff to that extent.
“It’s only now that I found out that he had an addiction,” he added.
Dr Flynn said Mr MacNamara was also on medication for depression. He said there would’ve been a danger of “tipping him into a severe depression” had he suggested Mr MacNamara come off the medication.
“The impression that I got from him was of a very reasonable man, very well presented. He told me he was a physiotherapist and one of the best chess players in Ireland. It all tends to make you believe that this wasn’t just anybody,” added Dr Flynn.
Ms Isobel O’Dea said the impression was that Mr MacNamara gave a “very credible reason for having medication”. A post mortem revealed the presence of a number of painkillers, prescription drugs and benzodiazepines including diaphine, diazepam and tramadol.
A pathologist told the inquest that while all drugs were within the therapeutic range, “The combined effect created cardio failure.”
Cause of death was found to be cardio failure secondary to the combined toxic effects of drugs.
Returning an open verdict, Ms O’Dea expressed her sympathy to the MacNamara family. “It’s very sad for such a bright young man to die so tragically,” she added.
On behalf of the gardaí, Inspector Michael Gallagher expressed his sympathy to the family.
Speaking afterwards, Geraldine MacNamara described her brother as “really bright and gifted in many ways”.