Warm tributes paid to St Luke’s psychiatrist killed in hiking tragedy

By COLIN BARTLEY

TRIBUTES continue to flood in for the St Luke’s General Consultant Psychiatrist who passed away following a fall in the Comeragh Mountains over the weekend.

The Health Service Executive, the South East Community Healthcare and colleagues have expressed their sympathies on “the untimely death of our colleague and friend” Dr  Séamus Mac Suibhne.

A native of Dublin, Dr Mac Suibhne has been working as a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Kilkenny Mental Health Services since 2011. He has been living Clonmel with his wife Aoife and young family, and was due to transfer to South Tipperary General Hospital in the coming weeks.

David Heffernan, South East Community Healthcare’s Head of Service for Mental Health led the tributes to Dr Mac Suibhne and said: “Our immediate thoughts are with Dr Mac Suibhne’s wife Dr Aoife Ni Chorcoraín, their children and extended family at this very difficult time.

“Dr Mac Suibhne was extensively involved in all aspects of the delivery of mental health services in Kilkenny. In addition, Dr Mac Suibhne played a key role in the development of the Liaison Services with St. Luke’s Hospital.

“Dr Mac Suibhne was also highly regarded through his teaching role with the Royal College of Psychiatrists of Ireland (RCPI) and played a significant role in the education and mentoring of all new doctors in training within the Carlow-Kilkenny Mental Health Services.

“Dr Mac Suibhne was also involved in the development of patient advocate services in Kilkenny. In this regard, his commitment to service user involvement in their own care needs was paramount in his work. “Dr Mac Suibhne was also involved in the development of many initiatives in relation to the mental health and wellbeing of all staff who worked with him.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go to Aoife, children and family at this time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”