The family of a devoted dad and husband who drowned in a docks told an inquest they believe he was 'badly let down' by mental health services.
Shaun Horan had a history of Bipolar Disorder and 'struggled to cope' with his mental health issues, LancsLive reports. He 'wanted help' but 'struggled with the shame', his family said.
The 48-year-old was tragically found dead in Preston Docks on March 29, 2020 - eight weeks after his family had reported him as missing. His body was found floating in the water close to where he had last been seen on CCTV parking his Toyota Auris.
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A post mortem suggested a cause of death as drowning. The inquest into Shaun's death at Preston Coroners' Court heard from his family yesterday (November 28).
It heard how Shaun's mum and ex-wife had both police that he had repeatedly said he would 'go into the water'. Beatrice Horan, Shaun's mum, told police in a statement that her son had a long history of mental health issues.
He had been seeing mental health practitioners at Strand Road for around 10 years and had been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In her statement, Mrs Horan recalled several occasions where her family had been concerned Shaun would take his own life.
She said: "On another occasion we went to Asda in Bolton and he had a bad do. He was upset about everything, I tried to take him home but he wouldn't move.
"I asked security for help and Shaun ended up going to Bolton Hospital where he stayed the night."
Mrs Horan said Shaun was a 'loving dad and husband who adored his wife' but struggled to cope with his mental health issues. She added: "The only help he got was Carer's Allowance, I was shocked.
"I wanted him to be taken to hospital to get the help he needed, not a Carer's Allowance."
The inquest heard that after Shaun split up with his wife Debbie in September 2019 he moved in with his parents. However, Debbie had expressed concerns about this, given Shaun's dad's 'controlling behaviour'.
Debbie said Shaun had two sides to his personality. When he was well he was witty, intelligent and devoted to her and their two children but when he was feeling down he became suicidal and would take risks.
"His weapon of choice was alcohol which made everything 10 times worse," she said. "He would try and drink himself to death. That was his aim - to fall asleep and never wake up."
Debbie said Shaun 'progressively got worse' and made several attempts to take his own life including trying to jump off a bridge and entering the sea at Fleetwood. She said that although Shaun wanted help he struggled to be open about his issues.
"He always felt massive shame about his mental health," Debbie told Assistant Coroner Neil Cronin. "He wanted help and to get better so he could be a good father and husband but he really struggled with the shame.
"He would get referred but by the time he was seen he would be feeling better. He never had proper psychotherapy. He had lost all hope and wanted to die. He couldn't see a future and I do feel that he was badly let down."
The inquest, which is due to last around four days, continues.
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