Coroner for south Mayo retires after dedicated service

GLOWING tributes have been paid to Ballyhaunis solicitor John O'Dwyer on his retirement as Coroner for south Mayo following dedicated service.

On his last day in the job, Mr. O'Dwyer repeated calls for increased staffing levels at the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital.

He said the unit is now dealing with twice the number annually it was designed to cater for.

After tributes were paid to him at Castlebar courthouse, John O'Dwyer said he hoped his successor will continue to highlight the need for further emergency department staff in Castlebar and also be more “open and transparent” with relatives when there are adverse outcomes to medical procedures.

He said he regretted that, even to this day, the hospital was not more open and transparent in providing information to bereaved families.

Mr. O'Dwyer said was he was “passionate” when it came to hospital issues and that had given rise to him asking “awkward and difficult questions” of hospital consultants at inquests over the years.

This was all done, he emphasised, in the interests of securing the best hospital service possible for the people of Mayo.