This article is from page 14 of the 2006-11-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
AN inquest has heard how a man, who had been abused as a child by a priest, wrote ‘goodbye’ notes to his family before he took his own life at his west Clare home.
Peter McCloskey (37), a separated father-of-three, died at Moveen West, Kilkee, on Sunday, April 2 last.
Dr Deirdre Curtin, a counsellor, recalled, in her deposition, that Peter had been referred to her through the Rape Crisis Centre in January of this year. She met him weekly for counselling, over 11 weeks.
She received two text messages from Peter on the evening of April 1, 2006. One of those said, “Thanks for trying to help me. I have to leave you of our contract now. There is nothing more 2 do or say.”
The other message said, “Goodbye millie go Hopper. I have 2 endi.”
Dr Curtin was at a funeral and when she got the messages – which were sent within 100 minutes of each other – she rang Peter’s mobile and left voice messages for him.
“I was concerned for Peter’s safety. The two text messages had alarmed me,” she said.
She rang the psychiatric services in Limerick and then she recalled Peter saying that he liked Kilkee and maybe he was there.
She rang Kilkee garda station and was put through to Kilrush. She was told that two gardaí who were to liaise with Peter were both off duty.
She later spoke to a garda and asked him to check that Peter was okay, given his previous psychiatric history.
Dr Curtin received a phone call later from that garda, to say that Peter had died tragically while he was at home.
The inquest was told he had lived alone in the dormer style two storey house. He was found dead on his couch and a number of goodbye notes, addressed to various family members, were found near his body.
Coroner Isobel O’Dea said, “I’m mindful of the text messages sent by Mr McCloskey. I’m satisfied there was an intent by Mr McCloskey to end his life,” and returned a verdict of suicide.