HC Deb 08 July 1890 vol 346 cc1091-2
MR. W. J. CORBET (Wicklow, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been drawn to an inquest held on Friday last at the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum, Dublin, into the death of Christopher O'Connor, who had for 40 years held appointments in the Criminal Lunatic Asylum at Dundrum, and had risen to the rank of head attendant, which he held for over 20 years; whether he has observed the conflicting medical evidence given at the inquest, Dr. Ashe, Resident Physician of the Criminal Asylum, stating— He knew a case in which a patient's ribs gave way of their own account without any violence; Dr. Nolan, Senior Assistant Physician of the Richmond Asylum, testifying that the injuries could not have been sustained by a man lying quietly in his bed; and Dr. Thomas Myles, who made a special post-mortem examination, deposing he found the deceased had fracture of four ribs on the right side and two on the left. Three of the ribs were broken in two places, two of them, the sixth and seventh, were driven into the right lung.… From the nature of the injuries to the ribs witness concluded they were due to a great crushing force recently inflicted, and probably at the same time. Deceased could not have inflicted the injuries on himself; whether he is aware that death from broken ribs is a common occurrence in lunatic asylums; whether his attention has been called to the finding of the Jury, that— Death was due to the fracture of the ribs, two of which perforated the right lung, the injuries being caused by violence, and that they had no evidence to show how this violence occurred. They recommended the widow and children of the deceased to the consideration of the Treasury on account of his long and faithful services; and will the recommendation of the Jury be given effect to?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Inspectors of Lunatic Asylums report that the newspaper statements in regard to the evidence given are misleading. There were no reporters present on the first day of the inquest, and the Inspectors are now awaiting copies of the depositions called for by them. The statements in paragraphs 3 and 4 appear to be correct. The recommendations of the Jury will receive consideration, but the Inspectors understand that the man died possessed of considerable property.