A mother who called a prison asking staff to keep a “closer eye” on her son after he made a disturbing call to her where he appeared to be hallucinating was contacted just over five hours later and told that he had made a suicide attempt leading her to rush to hospital where he subsequently died, an inquest has heard.
The prison authorities at the inquest of Andrew Gearns (29) indicated that he was checked on 13 times on the afternoon of September 28, 2020.
However, at 4.40pm he was found unresponsive in his one man cell in Cork Prison following a suicide attempt. He died at Cork University Hospital on October 7, 2020. Andrew, whose family said he was in “a dark place” was not in a special observation cell during his time in Cork Prison.
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Aideen Gearns told Cork Coroners’ Court that she received an alarming call from Andrew on the day of his suicide attempt.
She thought she would “never get him (Andrew) off the phone” so she could tell the prison that he wasn’t making any sense on the phone.
“I dialled the prison straight away. Whatever he was saying he believed it. (The nurse) told me they were aware of it and that they would keep a ‘closer eye’ (on her son).”
The inquest heard that trained service engineer Andrew Gearns (29) called his mother Aideen when he first entered Cork prison on September 22, 2020. He seemed perfectly lucid during the first call.
However, Ms Gearns said that on September 28 at around noon Andrew called her and started telling her a confusing tale about having been slashed in the face whilst out for a walk in Blackpool in the city. He also stated that he had gone for tea in Mayfield in the northside of the city.
Aideen said that she initially didn’t realise that Andrew was hallucinating as she had never seen him in this state. However, Ms Gearns said when she contacted the prison she was reassured by a nurse that he didn’t have any injuries and they were aware of his condition. She hung up thinking that “a closer eye” would be kept on Andrew.
Evan Gearns, the younger brother of Andrew, told the inquest that the father of two was very close to his mother. “The brown eyed boy” had such a good relationship with his mother that when they were younger if the siblings wanted something from her Andrew was elected to ask for it.
Mr Gearns told Coroner Philip Comyn that the life of his brother had derailed when he became addicted to drugs.
Evan said that Andrew had cried the week before he was imprisoned for a minor offence and wanted to turn his life around.
Andrew was “lost” and in a “very dark place” prior to his imprisonment his younger sibling Evan recalled.
“But we thought he was in the best place and would be safe. He didn’t want to be on drugs. He wanted help. We thought he would get the safe and proper medical treatment there.”
Meanwhile, during his committal interview when he first entered prison Mr Gearns said that he was without suicidal ideation and had no mental health difficulties. Nurse Anna Lyons told the inquest that Andrew guaranteed his safety on two occasions during that interview on September 22, 2020 and denied any thought of self harm or hurting himself.
Ms Lyons said that he did not seem distressed or agitated and she did not think that he required special observation. She made Covid protocol checks on Mr Gearns on September 25 and 27. He was physically well but on the second check he told Ms Lyons that he had been slashed and stabbed on an outing.
A review with the GP was scheduled for the following day. Nurse Lyons said although he appeared to be hallucinating he was “easily reassured.” He knew where he was and appeared “orientated.” He was scheduled for a GP visit and a check with a psychiatrist.
Nurse Lyons said that she had carried out a previous committal interview for Mr Gearns in 2018 where she did place him on special observation because he had experienced suicidal ideation. In 2018 he had made a suicide attempt a week before entering prison.
Barrister for the family, Elizabeth O’Connell, SC, asked Ms Lyons why Mr Gearns own assessment of his suicide risk was the main reason why he was not placed in special observation. Ms Lyons said that she made her own clinical assessment in addition to receiving feedback from the prisoner.
Coroner Philip Comyn noted that there was “glaring inadequacies” in prison medical notes with “clear differences” between what was noted in the nursing notes and in the committal interview. None of the differences were the fault of the individual nurse but were instead attributed to glitches in the system which are still being fixed
The inquest also heard evidence from prison officer Paul Cleary who found Mr Gearns unconscious in his cell at 4.50pm on September 28, 2020. He checked on Mr Gearns a number of times that afternoon and said that he seemed to be suffering withdrawal symptoms but appeared not to be a threat to himself or others.
Mr Cleary was not aware that Gearns had any history of suicide attempts. He said that Andrew seemed “defensive and afraid.” At one point during the day Mr Gearns told him that people at the window were trying to fight him. He also noted that the prisoner had not touched his dinner and when he asked him why he replied ; “how could I when my jaw is broken in five places?”
Cork Coroners Court also heard a statement from Mr Gearns’ partner of seventeen years, Amanda O’Callaghan, that he was put on Benzodiazepines for pain relief in 2016 following a car crash. He became addicted to the drugs.
Ms O’Callaghan said that Andrew began to suffer suicidal thoughts. However, he entered treatment and returned to his usual self. His condition deteriorated again in 2019. He was using heroin and again entered treatment. However, he subsequently relapsed.
She said that when Andrew was put in prison he rang on September 25 “sounding low.” The following day Mr Gearns called Ms O’Callaghan and said that he had been out for a walk in Blackpool and had been slashed with a blade in the face.
She stated that although he was in custody he believed this version of events. Ms O’Callaghan said he wasn’t making any sense as she knew he was in custody.
On September 28, she was informed that he was in hospital following an incident. The inquest continues tomorrow.
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