Staff from the Mental Health Service in Limerick yesterday met the family of a 55-year-old man who committed suicide a few hours after he was released from the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.
The Limerick man's body was discovered at his home in a small village in west Limerick on Tuesday afternoon where he lived alone, just hours after he was released from the hospital.
The man was brought by ambulance to the hospital the previous day after a neighbour who was concerned about his mental state contacted gardaí.
Gardaí from Newcastlewest Garda station called to the man's home and immediately contacted his family and a doctor, who recommended that he be taken to the hospital.
It is understood the man had injuries to his head and neck area and he was treated for these injuries at the hospital's A&E department.
He stayed overnight at the hospital and was released early on Tuesday morning. He got a bus home on his own, according to his family, who claim they were not aware he was released.
The alarm was raised later that afternoon when another neighbour found the man's body at his home.
Gardaí from Newcastlewest were again called to the house and it is understood the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim's family, who were at the hospital on Monday night, claim that they left thinking that he was going to receive the appropriate psychiatric care.
It still remained unclear last night, however, if the man spent the night in a psychiatric ward of the hospital or in the A&E department.
Yesterday, the family sought a meeting with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in a bid to clarify matters.
In a very brief statement issued yesterday afternoon, the HSE confirmed that staff from the Mental Health Service had met the family.
The HSE expressed its sympathy to the family and relatives involved in the "tragic death".
"Clinical personnel from the Mental Health Service have met with members of the family this morning and the HSE has offered appropriate supports and counselling to the family," the statement read.
"We are not in a position to comment further on this particular case," it concluded.