UPDATED: OFFICIALS from the HSE have arrived in Killybegs today to launch an inquiry into how a patient at the local community hospital died.
The funeral is taking place today of Mr Paddy Keeney, 87, who suffered from dementia.
He disappeared from Killybegs Community Hospital hours before his body was recovered from the town’s harbour last Friday.
Sources say the HSE inquiry will involve interviewing all staff and will attempt to trace Mr Keeney’s movements before his disappearance around 11am that day.
“A full timeline will be established on how and why this incident occurred. Obviously Mr Keeney’s family will be kept up to date on how and why this happened,” said one source.
“It is ultimately a terrible tragedy for all concerned,” the source added.
“Questions are going to have to be put to the HSE as to how this tragedy unfolded and occurred,” said local councillor Brendan Byrne.
TD Thomas Pringle said: “We need to let the HSE investigation take it’s course.
“There is a need for the HSE to investigate the circumstances around the death of Paddy and if systems are required to prevent a patient leaving the hospital they need to be put in place without delay.
“HIQA had identified this as a potential problem in a previous inspection and management of the HSE need to act now to put the systems in place.
“Killybegs Community Hospital had a special place in Paddy’s heart and he was a huge supporter of the hospital attending since it’s opening and helping out in the day centre over the years. The hospital having an open policy to the community was important to him and it will be essential to strike a balance between security and patient comfort in the future.”
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