State cases at OSP hit ten-year high
The Office of the State Pathologist (OSP) dealt with 394 cases last year – a slight fall from 400 in the previous year.
The number of State cases, however, was the highest in ten years, according to Chief State Pathologist Linda Mulligan.
State cases are post-mortem examination (PMEs) in criminal, suspicious or unusual deaths and made up 54% of all cases last year, according to the office’s annual report.
“Increased clustering of cases, inquest and criminal-court attendances, reduced availability of mortuaries and/or mortuary staff, and increased travel to cases outside Dublin have all affected the availability of pathologists at times,” said Mulligan.
Laboratory’s workload doubled
She added that OSP’s laboratory would need additional support “imminently”, as an internal audit showed that its workload had doubled in the past ten years.
The report repeats concerns expressed last year about mortuaries, pointing out that, as the OSP does not have its own mortuary facility, pathologists must travel to various HSE-run mortuaries around the country to perform State forensic cases.
“The logistics of organising this are becoming increasingly challenging, as the HSE mortuaries are also dealing with increased workloads, staff shortages, and resource issues,” the report states.
Mulligan says that the establishment of a “resourced, sustainable” coronial-autopsy service as part of plans to reform the coronial service “would serve to improve and strengthen the national forensic pathology service”.
Skeletonised remains
The OSP carried out 138 adult non-suspicious PMEs at the direction of the Dublin District Coroner, while seven cases were referred to it for expert opinion.
Of the 35 cases of skeletonised remains referred to the OSP last year, 17 were identified as human bones, 17 were identified as animal bones, and one was neither.
Of the 17 human skeletal remains, seven were classified as ancient or historic and, where appropriate, were referred on to the National Museum of Ireland.