‘Ultan was kind and gentle and wonderful with my two sons’

The Meath woman who lost her husband and son within a few short weeks of each other has spoken out about her anger and devastation at the death of her “kind and gentle husband and fun loving and gentle son”.

Mary Bartley Meehan has been devastated at the deaths of her son Aidan Bartley and her husband Ultan Meehan within 10 weeks.

She has been particularly traumatised at the condition Ultan was in when he was taken from Kilbrew Nursing Home to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown with a facial sore infested with maggots.

“Nobody deserves that – he must have been in terrible pain,” she said.

She has called for a full independent investigation into his death, but nothing can ease the loss of her beloved husband and son.

Ultan and Adrian were stepfather and stepson who got on extremely well together and shared a room at the Kilbrew nursing home. They both suffered from dementia.

Adrian had Down Syndrome and was always in good form.

“He used to go to Prosper Meath and he just loved going to it every day. “From when he got up in the morning he was in good form,” she recalls.

“He was a great character and he was loved by everybody.”

Adrian was a Special Olympian and loved to attend Navan Arch Club.

“He played bowling and basketball and travelled to Luxembourg and Belgium with special Olympics.

“He was full of the joys of living when the Special Olympics came to Ireland in 2003.

“Adrian was a gentle soul who never saw any bad in anyone.”

Adrian was just 21 when his beloved father, John Bartley died in 1989.

His mother remarried in August 1994 and both Adrian and his brother Mark got on really well with their new stepdad, Ultan.

“Ultan and I met at the Holy Ghost Father's place at Ardbraccan, where we both worked.

“He was quiet and shy but very kind and gentle. He was wonderful with my two sons.

“We were a very happy family and we were married 26 years. He was a real gentleman and was very well respected.”

“It has been terrible to lose them both, but particularly in the circumstances they died, with no proper funerals.

“Just last week, I saw photos and video of Ultan's face when he was admitted to Connolly Hospital and it will never leave me.

“It was horrific. You could see the huge clusters of maggots on his face and them falling off in clumps.

“I need to get justice for Ultan and an apology.

“This has to be answered for, but everyone seems to be playing pass the parcel and I am not getting any answers.”

Adrian was diagnosed with dementia and in 2018, he moved to Kilbrew Nursing Home.

Ultan then became ill with dementia and moved to Kilbrew where he shared a room with his stepson.

“From the beginning Ultan didn't like it there and three times he tried to come home.

“Then he got cancer on his face and he had it removed in the Mater Hospital and had a skin graft.

“I used to bring them home at the weekends to look after them but then when lockdown began and Adrian died without me seeing him and I didn't see Ultan for seven weeks.”

Mary's world was turned upside down when Adrian died on 31st March in Connolly Hospital. Because of restrictions Mary couldn't be with him and saw him on a WhatsApp call shortly before he died.

“He was very bad and was gasping for breath. I told him he would be seeing his Daddy and asked him to open his eyes if he could hear me and he opened them.

Only 10 people could attend Adrian's funeral and because of restrictions she had to drive herself to the funeral.

As restrictions eased slightly, Mary was able to visit Ultan in the garden of the home and on 7th May she asked if staff would cut his nails which were long and black.

When she visited again on 14th May, she was deeply shocked at his condition.

His nails were still long and black from picking at his facial tumours, which had become an open wound and was infected. The side of his face was black with congealed blood, and there was a pungent smell.

He had a jumper of Adrian's on him and size nine shoes, on the wrong feet, although he only wears size eight.

While she was wearing full protective clothing to guard against Covid-19, Mary felt compelled to take off her gloves and cut his nails herself.

“I was told I couldn't visit him the following week, because I had broken the rules,” she said.

Ultan tested positive for Covid-19 but was asymptomatic.

He was admitted to Connolly Hospital on 29th May when his wound was infested with maggots. He died from sepsis on 15th June.

“Her got great care in Connolly Hospital.”

“It was another very lonely funeral although 25 people were allowed attend this time.”

Mary’s advocate, Maureen Finlay, who works with Sage Advocacy, a support group for vulnerable adults, said that calls were made to Kilbrew in May requesting that Ultan be transferred to a hospital or hospice care; the home said they were taking care of him, she said.

Mary has for been looking for answers about her husband’s treatment for some time and throughout this, Sage Advocacy has been supporting her.

Sage has written to both Simon Harris and Stephen Donnelly requesting their intervention in and investigation of issues relating to the care of both her husband and son.

Mary wants to let people know what had happened to her husband and is angry that nobody in Government or in any agency is listening to her.

“Was this the best official Ireland could do? I want a full independent investigation,” she says.

HIQA will meet with Mary after report finalised

HIQA , the Health Information and Quality Authority has offered to meet with Mary Bartley Meehan when the report of HIQA inspection of Kilbrew has been finalised.

A spokesperson said HIQA is aware of the sad circumstances pertaining to the deaths of Mrs Meehan’s son and husband, details of which were brought to their attention on Mrs Meehan’s behalf by SAGE.

"All correspondence received on Mrs Meehan’s behalf has been reviewed and responded to."

James Keeling CEO of Kilbrew Nursing Home said: “We extend our sincere condolences to Mrs Bartley Meehan and her family on the recent passing of both her husband Ultan and son Adrian.

“However, it is not appropriate to go into clinical detail relating to any resident or their treatment. At all times, we work to provide the best of care to every resident, who each have a dedicated GP assigned to them.”

He said they had submitted a report to HIQA on 25th June regarding the late Mr Meehan and await the outcome of a further review by HIQA.

“Kilbrew Nursing Home, like many others, has been under acute pressure in the midst of the pandemic and its managers and staff have and continue to work extremely hard to deliver the best in care for all of its residents," he said.

Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly also expressed his condolences.

“These are very sad and challenging times for anybody who has suffered the loss of a loved one.

“The Department cannot comment in relation to the details of an individual case. We can however confirm that we are aware of this case, the details of which have been forwarded to HIQA, as the statutory regulator for nursing homes, who are following up on this case as appropriate. “

The Minister has met with Sage Advocacy on various issues including concerns he had about this case and understands that HIQA have, in the first instance, been in touch with the advocacy service who raised the case on behalf of the family member and offered to meet with the family member.

The HSE expressed its sympathy to Mrs Meehan at this very difficult time.

“HIQA, the independent regulator that ensures safe and high-quality care for people in health and social care settings in Ireland, is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the care of Ultan Meehan in Kilbrew Nursing Home.

“It is not appropriate for the HSE to comment while the HIQA investigation is ongoing,” a spokesperson said.