Care home man’s death a mystery

The death of a man with mental health issues remains unexplained despite an extensive medical investigation, an inquest has heard.

Martin Griffiths, who was originally from Londonderry but who had been living in a specialist care home in Belfast, went missing last July and was found dead in a hedgerow close by a week later.

At an inquest hearing in Belfast yesterday, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Alastair Bentley said Mr Griffiths’ case was one of around 20-30 deaths in Northern Ireland each year that could not be explained by a post-mortem examination.

The 55-year-old former painter and decorator suffered from schizophrenia, diabetes, alcoholism and other health conditions.

He left the Saintfield Lodge care home on Belfast’s Old Saintfield Road on the morning of July 30, 2012 and bought a litre of vodka and two litres of cider in a nearby off licence.

Despite a search of the local area by staff from the care home, Mr Griffiths’ whereabouts remained a mystery until police carried out a thorough search of a derelict garden centre on August 7.

His body was discovered lying beneath a hedge along with the empty vodka and cider bottles.

Dr Bentley told the coroner Jim Kitson that alcohol poisoning had been ruled out as he found a blood/alcohol level of only two-and-a-quarter times the legal limit for driving.

Mr Bentley said it was possible a “cardiac arrhythmia” could have occurred spontaneously despite previously normal heart tests.

“Arrhythmia can occur and be fatal with no evidence of this afterwards. Sometimes heavy drinkers are prone to seizures,” he said.

Saintfield Lodge care worker Terri Jordan explained to the coroner that Mr Griffiths had appeared “quite down” when he collected his daily cash allowance of £3 on the morning he went missing.

She said: “He would generally stand and have a conversation but this morning he didn’t.”

A PSNI constable gave evidence that he searched the grounds of the disused garden centre on August 7 along with several other members of his Tactical Support Group.

The constable said he discovered Mr Griffiths’ body lying on its side beneath a hedge in a secluded part of the site.

“It was as if he had been taking cover from the elements,” the officer said.

Concluding the inquest hearing, Mr Kitson said that, on balance, an upset heart rhythm was a major factor but added: “It is regrettable we will never know the exact cause of his death.”