Limerick family’s fight for dad goes on, 15 years after death

THE DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions’ decision not to criminally investigate the death of a Limerick man won’t deter his son’s fight for justice.

Mike Daly Jnr campaigned for over a decade to secure a second inquest into the death of his father - Michael Daly Snr - who passed away on April 7, 2010.  A 2012 inquest found that the Garryowen man had died of cardiac failure due to natural causes.

After the verdict which Mr Daly Jnr did not accept, he said, “I am taking this on myself”. He  gave up his few pints with friends on Friday nights and spent every weekend “religiously” poring over his father’s medical files to “uncover the true cause of his death”.

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Over the following years he read through some 16,000 A4 sheets of technical reports in his quest for a second inquest - the granting of which is highly unusual.

A verdict of medical misadventure was recorded at the second inquest into the death of Mr Daly Snr in 2023. Two inquests for the same person is thought to be a first in the history of the State. 

It heard that a “timely” surgical procedure would have “avoided the death” of Mr Daly Snr who had been treated for rectal pain and bleeding for over two and half years and had a number of surgical procedures carried out in the Regional Hospital (now University Hospital Limerick).

Mr Daly Snr’s family took a case against the HSE. The case was settled  in the High Court in June 2024. A letter on behalf of UHL addressed to his widow Mary, was read to the court.

“On behalf of University Hospital Limerick, we wish to offer you sincere sympathies on the death of Michael Daly. Regrettably, investigations have shown that aspects of the care received by Mr Daly did not reach the standards that could be expected. The hospital has admitted liability and apologises unreservedly to you and your family for the hurt, stress and upset caused,” it said.

A year on, Mr Daly Jnr said that admission “meant the world to my family and me”.

“It was the first official recognition that our father’s death was avoidable, and we had finally succeeded in uncovering the truth.

“After the inquest, we appealed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to reopen the criminal investigation into our father’s death. Despite spending a year reviewing the case, the DPP ultimately decided not to prosecute,” said Mr Daly Jnr.

He said he has met with officials in Leinster House and there are “ongoing efforts to explore the possibility of a non-statutory inquiry”.

Mr Daly Jnr said the inquiry is not solely about his father’s case as he aims to help other families in similar situations.

“We have also submitted a detailed file to the European Court of Human Rights,” said Mr Daly Jnr.

He said nothing will ever bring their father back but “we continue our fight so that meaningful change can emerge”. 

“After fifteen long years, we have already achieved significant victories. We’ve shown that persistence and truth can bring justice, even when the system resists. 

“In the coming months, I will be publishing a book detailing our family’s journey - what happened to our father, and why the public deserves to know,” said Mr Daly, who has also started his own company - Medical Records Research Ireland - to help other families who have questions over the deaths of loved ones.