Gardaí have forwarded a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions after completing an investigation into the death of a 75-year-old female patient while strapped in a chair at a hospital in Co Cork earlier this year.
Officers forwarded the file to the DPP after interviewing four members of staff at Heatherside Hospital near Doneraile in north Cork following the death of Hannah Comber from Ballylopin, Charleville, Co Cork, at the hospital on June 22nd last.
Ms Comber died from asphyxiation after she became entangled in a strap on a specialised therapeutic chair in the early hours of June 22nd, but staff did not mention that Ms Comber was caught in the strap when they initially informed gardaí of her death.
A postmortem by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster at Cork University Hospital revealed the patient had died from asphyxiation. Gardaí began an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Officers interviewed four members of staff who were on duty the night Ms Comber died. It is understood their investigation explored whether a staff member may have inadvertently fallen asleep during which time Ms Comber choked.
It is understood that a detailed file has been submitted to the DPP. A decision will then be made on whether charges should be brought over the initial reporting of the manner of Ms Comber's death.
