Anti-vaccine extremist Antonio Mureddu will not face criminal charges in connection with Covid patient Joe McCarron’s departure from hospital while gravely ill last year.
The Sunday Independent is this morning reporting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decision.
Mr McCarron (67), a Covid-sceptic was removed, against medical advice, from Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH).
He returned two days later, but subsequently died.
In February, Gardaí arrested anti-vax extremist Mureddu (44), an Italian immigrant, in relation to Mr McCarron’s death.
The arrest was related to the Covid patient’s departure from hospital while gravely ill.
However, he was later released without charge and Gardaí prepared a file for the DPP.
Mureddu is associated with ‘The Common Law Information Centre,’ a Ballybofey-based conspiracy theory group.
Mr McCarron was the first of two members of the group to die with Covid.
In a video that later went viral worldwide, Mureddu is seen encouraging the seriously ill patient to leave, despite a doctor telling Mr McCarron he could die.
In the video of the incident on September 14, the Italian can be seen telling Mr McCarron: “Put your trousers on, we are going now, you are safe, you follow me.”
A staff member tells the patient he has the right to decide what he wants to do but adds: “You are barely able to breathe there now. We want you to stay and help you.”
“No Joe, they’re going to f***ing kill you Joe,” Mr Mureddu says before telling the staff member: “Because you are killing people.”
The medic then tells Mr McCarron: “I’m very worried about you and I want you to stay. I think he is saying something very dangerous. What he is saying is very wrong and very dangerous, and I think he is endangering your life.
“It is a very difficult disease that you have and I’m not lying to you, you could die. This will be your best chance in the hospital and getting the support we are giving to you.”
Mr Mureddu then intervenes and accuses hospital staff of “lying” and says: “We go.”
“Think about this,” the staff member then tells the Italian. “You are endangering his life.”
Two days later Mr McCarron was readmitted to hospital. He was placed on a ventilator but his condition deteriorated fatally.
His family have criticised what happened and urged people to follow medical advice in relation to Covid-19.
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