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Man died by suicide after suffering from 'treatment resistant delusional disorder'

Gerard McGonagle was found dead at his home in south Belfast in June 2013
Gerard McGonagle was found dead at his home in south Belfast in June 2013 Gerard McGonagle was found dead at his home in south Belfast in June 2013

A MAN who was found dead at his home died by suicide after suffering from a delusional disorder, a coroner has ruled.

Gerard McGonagle (59) died at his home in Rosetta Parade in south Belfast in June 2013.

Coroner Suzanne Anderson said Mr McMcGonagle, who had owned his own car sales business on Ormeau Road, had suffered from poor mental health since 2006, arising from "loss of employment and the collapse of his marriage".

Ms Anderson said: "He had become preoccupied with the idea that his body was shrinking and that he had lumps on his head and remained adamant he was not suffering from a mental health condition.

"Treatment including electro-convulsion therapy did not alleviate the condition.

"His family expressed concerns that he had put up a front for medical staff..to get out of hospital."

In the two weeks prior to his death, visits from the community mental health team were reduced after Mr McGonagle claimed his mood had improved and "asked for a break from the visits", which he found "intrusive and irritating".

The day before his death, he contacted one of his daughters leaving an agitated voicemail message saying "nobody could fix him".

A decision on whether to increase the frequency of visits to twice daily was due to be taken at a meeting on the day the Belfast man took his own life.

The coroner said that despite concerns "there were no conditions to detain him under the Mental Health Act" and Mr McGonagle "had the capacity to make his own decisions."

"It is accepted that patients with delusional disorders have a high risk of suicide and are highly resistant to treatment."

The coroner recorded the cause of death as "hanging, with treatment-resistant delusional disorder as a significant contributing factor."

Coroner Suzanne Anderson said that Mr McGonagle had suffered from "treatment resistant delusional disorder"
Coroner Suzanne Anderson said that Mr McGonagle had suffered from "treatment resistant delusional disorder" Coroner Suzanne Anderson said that Mr McGonagle had suffered from "treatment resistant delusional disorder"