Family says medication not a factor in son's killing

THE INQUEST into the death of Sebastian Creane was told his family “cannot comprehend” how an attempt was made to ascribe fault…

THE INQUEST into the death of Sebastian Creane was told his family “cannot comprehend” how an attempt was made to ascribe fault to prescribed medication, “without any corresponding attempt being made to consider all other factors”.

Creane family solicitor Peter Flynn of Mayo read a prepared statement in which Dylan Creane and parents James and Nuala said they were trying to come to terms with the “abrupt, calculated and violent termination” of Sebastian’s life.

They had had “to worry about and endure the gruesome and futile ritual of two coroner’s inquests” which had provided “a platform to air an assumption for the motivation of Shane Clancy”.

East Wicklow coroner Cathal Louth was told: “Let us not forget what happened here. Seb was stalked by a person who, having manoeuvred his way into our home, left, armed himself and then returned sometime later to complete his objective.

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“By playing on Seb’s better nature he once again gained access to the house, killed Seb, attempted to kill Jen and then Dylan before withdrawing to kill himself.”

The family said the issue of prescribed medication being the motivating factor in the killings had been raised in a process “which would not allow for any questioning or any challenging of that assumption, despite the expressed concerns of the College of Psychiatry of Ireland”.

Healing would be difficult “for all parties” but “no true healing can ever be founded on denial”.

The family thanked gardaí, their families, friends and neighbours, hospital staff and emergency services. They also thanked Laura Mackey for being with Sebastian when he died.

Mr and Ms Creane, their son Dylan, Ms Mackey and Sebastian’s girlfriend Jennifer Hannigan all attended the inquest.

The College of Psychiatry of Ireland says it is preparing a response to issues relating to anti-depressant medication that arose following the deaths of Sebastian Creane and Shane Clancy.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist