The father of a Dublin schoolgirl who fell to her death from a cruise ship, took his own life, an inquest has heard.
Paul O'Brien (49) from Bushy Park House in Terenure, south Dublin, was found at a factory he co-owned at the Clondalkin Industrial Estate in Dublin 10 on July 8th last year. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Tallaght Hospital.
Mr O’Brien was the father of Lynsey O’Brien (15) who fell to her death from the Costa Magica cruise ship sailing out of Fort Lauderdale in Florida in January 2006 during a family holiday to the Caribbean.
She had been served at least 10 alcoholic drinks with a friend in the hours before her death. Her parents were having dinner with a group of friends and did not know she was at the bar.
When they found her after dinner, they immediately complained to a senior officer and took her to her cabin. Within seconds of her parents retiring to their own cabin next door, she fell overboard. Her body was never recovered.
Following her death, Mr O’Brien campaigned for better safety on cruise ships.
At Dublin Coroner’s Court, the inquest into his death heard he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age but kept it under control from 22 years old. However, his wife Sandra O’Brien said he struggled with his mental health following Lynsey’s death and, at one stage, spent seven months in St Patrick’s Hospital.
“He had numerous suicide attempts since Lynsey’s death. This time was around the 10th time. He would normally have told someone of his intention to attempt suicide but this time he didn’t,” she said.
Mr O’Brien was found by his daughter Kelley O’Brien. She ran to a nearby gym for help and a number of people came to his aid, performing CPR until paramedics arrived. He remained unresponsive throughout and was pronounced dead on arrival at Tallaght Hospital.
The toxicology report found a small amount of alcohol in his system as well as some of his prescribed medications.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell returned a verdict of death by suicide.
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