A coroner ruled the death of Fr Paddy O'Kane preventable. The 73-year-old priest took his own life on 28 March 2022 while receiving treatment for depression at Waterside Hospital in Londonderry. Staff found him dead in the hospital garden during a routine hourly check.

Coroner Maria Dougan delivered findings at Laganside court in Belfast on Thursday. She identified failures in assessing ligature risks in the garden area. No comprehensive risk assessment covered the garden at the time. This omission allowed access to materials Fr O'Kane used to hang himself.

Dougan noted a series of failures at directorate, sub-directorate, and individual levels in managing ligature risks. She found missed opportunities in Fr O'Kane's care despite appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and general observation levels.

John McGinley, then assistant director of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, told the inquest the garden's exclusion from health and safety checks was a serious error. The trust accepted the findings and confirmed remedial actions, including garden inclusion in assessments and CCTV installation.

The trust completed 14 recommendations from a Serious Adverse Incident investigation. A spokesperson reiterated condolences to Fr O'Kane's family.

Dougan highlighted challenges for those in religious life with mental health issues. She suggested religious authorities review support after hospital discharge. Fr O'Kane's niece Catherine Duffy attended the inquest.