Statement from Maud Coffey’s family
Maud was – and will always be – our sister. She was gentle, creative and kind. She had a deep inner strength and a great capacity to love.
We agree with the verdict of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity and we thank the courts and the jury for the care they have shown. We do not believe Austin is responsible for Maud’s death. We wish him well in his recovery, and hope he can find peace.
These past three years, waiting for the trial, have been incredibly difficult for our family. Our hearts go out to the Mangan family. This has been agony for them too. A tragedy like this is rare, but when it happens it is truly devastating. Two lives were destroyed three years ago and two families torn apart. We believe this could have been avoided.
Since Maud’s death, we have tried to engage with the HSE Mental Health Services so that lessons could be learned. When we finally met them, we found the process deeply unsatisfactory and very upsetting. We felt their engagement with us ended prematurely, and we were left with a sense that no meaningful learning had taken place.
During this trial we learned that Austin’s mental health team was aware for at least three months that he was not taking his medication as prescribed. Evidence was also provided that he sought help from his team the day before Maud’s murder and was sent away with an appointment for the following week. We do not hold any individual responsible for this, we believe this was due to a systemic failing.
From what we know, we believe an over reliance on medication within our mental health services contributed to this tragedy. A recovery approach means more than medication alone. It includes listening, support, and understanding a person’s wider needs, and it is globally recognised as the most effective way to support people with mental illness. Medication can be life-saving as part of a care plan, but it cannot be the only answer. If a care plan has only one strand, what happens when that strand breaks?
We believe that if Austin had been properly listened to, Maud would still be with us. She would not have died in such a horrendous way. We want to work with the HSE to prevent a tragedy like this ever happening again. We are seeking
● meaningful engagement instead of silence
● accountability instead of defensiveness
● positive change instead of repeated mistakes
We want to be clear that we are not seeking compensation or financial redress. Our only aim is that lessons are learned and that mental health services improve, so that others can be spared from similar tragedies.
We will continue to push for positive change. We owe it to Maud and we owe it to Austin. We will do it in memory of our gentle sister. Tá sí in ár gcroíthe go deo. Go raibh maith agaibh.
— Statement issued by Maud Coffey’s family, published with consent from the Coffey family.