asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that an inmate of Ardee Mental Hospital who escaped from that institution was found drowned in the river Dee on March 6th; whether the responsible authorities in the mental hospital reported the occurrence to him; and, if so, whether he will state what conclusions, if any, he has reached concerning the cause of the tragedy, and whether any responsibility rests on the improvised staff at the institution who have taken the places of the attendants and nurses on strike.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Drowning Tragedy.
The reply to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The inmate, who was a parole patient, was working on the farm. The case is regarded as one of pure misadventure, and no responsibility lies with any of the staff.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether any other deaths of inmates have taken place since the strike and, if so, under what circumstances?
I am afraid that is a separate question.