Meath councillors call for inquiry into Ultan Meehan case as advocacy group reveals abusive phone calls

Sage, the advocacy group working with the family of the late Ultan Meehan, says it has received abusive and threatening phone calls since raising his case, as Fine Gael councillors in Meath lead calls for an inquiry into the case.

When the Ardbraccan man was brought from Kilbrew Nursing Home to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown on 29th May, it was discovered that a wound on his face had become infected with maggots. He died two and a half weeks later.

His wife, Mary, had been raising concerns about her husband’s care – or lack of it – in the nursing home for months, and is seeking a meeting with the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, to find out why her concerns were not dealt with by the relevant health authorities.

Sage Advocacy says that while it has received many messages of support since highlighting the case of Ultan Meehan, a sinister element is a number of anonymous abusive phone calls that the advocacy group has been receiving.

“These all have a recurring theme, relating to the case, and are very abusive,” Sage Executive director, Mervyn Taylor says. “They are anonymously made to a number of our phone numbers, and seem to be an orchestrated campaign.”

When asked if they it was aware of these allegations of phone calls, James Keeling, manager of Kilbrew Nursing Home, said: "We have not been contacted directly with regards to any such allegations and we would not under any circumstance condone this type of activity."

Expressing his condolences to Mr Meehan’s family during this very difficult time, Minister Donnelly said last week that he cannot comment in relation to the details of an individual case.

His Department added: “The Department can however confirm that it is 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 Department also 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.”

Mervyn Taylor says: “We understand from senior political figures that there is increasing concern about the lack of a response to Mary Bartley Meehan and public disquiet continues to grow over this. It’s a disgrace that a woman who is seeking answers has received none to date.

“There has also been no contact from HIQA despite assertions from the former Minister for Health, Simon Harris, that HIQA had “direct engagement” with Mary Bartley-Meehan. This is not the case.”

In Meath, Fine Gael councillors have united to seek clarification around the events leading to the death of Ultan Meehan.

Leading the Fine Gael call for clarification is Cllr Sarah Reilly who explained her position and why full public transparency on the matter is of importance to the citizens of Meath.

“The people of Meath, and indeed further afield, are shocked. People who have loved ones in nursing homes, who are unable to leave for day visits due to Covid, are fearful and unnerved. To allay this unease and restore our confidence it is imperative that a full public inquiry be conducted. The people of Meath need to know that alleged negligence in nursing homes will be investigated thoroughly and should the allegations be validated that the full weight of the law will be applied.”

ABOVE: Mary Bartley Meehan with photos of her late husband, Ultan, and son, Adrian, both of whom died during the pandemic, having been sharing a room at Kilbrew Nursing Home, Ashbourne. PHOTO COURTESY ALAN BETSON IRISH TIMES