The State pathologist, Dr John Harbison, has said he has not retired, contrary to reports. He made the statement after giving evidence at an inquest in Castlebar, Co Mayo, yesterday.
When Mr John O'Dwyer, south Mayo coroner, congratulated Dr Harbison on his retirement, Dr Harbison replied: "I am not retired. The Government decided from January 1st I was not to examine any more new bodies, but I am still working and I am still the State pathologist."
An accidental death verdict was returned after examination by Dr Harbison of the body of an 88-year-old woman, whose death was investigated and who was found to have died of accidental causes.
Multiple bruising appeared on the body of Ms Mary Duffy, Carrowkeel, Turlough, Castlebar, Co Mayo, who died on September 22nd, 2002. Dr Harbison noted the bruises appeared mostly in areas where they could have been sustained in falls.
At an inquest into the death in Castlebar yesterday, Ms Mairead Flanagan said her mother's health had been bad for four years and she had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for at least the past year. She had to do everything for her mother who was not physically strong and would fall from one side of the chair to the other. She had to be lifted everywhere.
She had no power in her legs for three weeks before she died. She had flu during the few days before she died and was not in good form.
Dr Harbison said there was multiple bruising on the face, scalp, chest, arms and legs. There were clean, sterile dressings on superficial ulcers. He noted the deceased had received good medical care but her medical condition was poor. There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol.
He concluded that Ms Duffy died from bronchial pneumonia, due to or associated with senility and debility.
Regarding the multiple bruising, he noted that in elderly people, bruising took much longer to disappear. The bruises found were mostly in areas where they could have been sustained in falls.
Mr O'Dwyer said he was satisfied the verdict was one of accidental death.