AN OPEN verdict was returned at the inquest of an 83-year-old woman from Schull who died of a cerebral haemorrhage.
BY OLIVIA KELLEHER
Marilyn Hilliard, of Rossbrin Cove, Schull collapsed on February 11th 2025 at her home while preparing dinner for her husband Billy and a family friend.
Cork Coroner’s Court heard evidence from Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, who said that a neurological expert believed that the severe haemorrhage was likely linked to high blood pressure or hypertension.
Mrs Hilliard, who was a mother-of-four, grandmother and great grandmother, displayed none of the usual triggering factors for such haemorrhages other than a thickening of the left wall of her heart.
Dr Bolster said that Mrs Hilliard died from a cerebral haemorrhage.
She indicated that there was no trauma or vascular malfunction and that an event such as a fall was not a factor in her death.
Coroner Philip Comyn heard that Mrs Hilliard attended a natural remedies practitioner, Paschal Carmody, for treatment for arthritis.
Mr Carmody said that he had no recollection of giving Mrs Carmody anything other than one injection in 2024.
Mr Comyn showed Mr Carmody payment receipts from visits by the pensioner to him over the period spanning from April to December 2024.
The receipt indicated that Mrs Hilliard had spent €1,720 on four consultations with Mr Carmody.
Mr Carmody again repeated that his memory was of one injection. When asked if he kept patient records he replied : ‘Sometimes….not always.’ The Killaloe, Co Clare based practitioner conceded that it would be ‘an advisable practice’ to keep records of consultations.
‘My practice is in natural or alternative medicine. We have our own rules to follow,’ he stated. Mr Carmody said Mrs Hilliard travelled to Clare to see him in spring 2024 having experienced issues with arthritis.
He said on her second visit he administered an injection of hypotonic dextrose in an effort to promote regeneration of tendons, ligaments and soft tissue.
Nick Hilliard, the son of the deceased, said his mother experienced severe pain having received multiple injections from Mr Carmody.
He said on one occasion she was in too much pain to get into the car. At another time she was unable to dress herself.
Mr Hilliard said his mother also told them she had received a second type of injection during a later consultation with Mr Carmody.
He said that his mother had been told that this injection would cure her.
‘After July 2024 it was apparent to us that she was being injected with something that had a systemic effect on her body,’ he said. ‘We would like to know what that was and to see if it was a contributing cause in her death.’
Mr Carmody confirmed that his signature was on the receipts. But he insisted that only one injection was given to Mrs Hilliard. His solicitor said a verdict of natural causes should be returned by the coroner.
However, the coroner said that while the cause of death was clear ‘what may have given rise to that is a little less clear’.
He said that it was likely that Mrs Hilliard had received further injections during her visits to see Mr Carmody, describing the lack of record keeping by Mr Carmody as ‘unusual’.
Mr Comyn returned an open verdict that Mrs Hilliard had died from a cerebral haemorrhage on February 11 2025..
Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Hilliard’s adult children Robin, Nick, Melanie and Leonie urged people to seek medical advice from trained and registered personnel.
Nick Hilliard said that they would have liked if Mr Carmody was ‘more forthcoming’ in his evidence. Robin Hilliard urged members of the public to stick to ‘evidence based medicine’.