Inquest told of suicide attempts

A FORMER gas fitter hanged himself in retribution after his girlfriend ended their seven-year relationship, an inquest heard.

Scott Hennessy, 29, became depressed after the split and was later found hanged from the goalposts in a local park.

He sent a last text message to his ex-partner Dawn Wilson during the night, which she found the following morning after switching on her phone.

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It read: "Thanks for ignoring me again and being inconsiderate. When you read this I shall be dead. I just needed your help but you did not care."

The Sheffield inquest heard that Mr Hennessy, from Shafton, Barnsley, had tried to kill himself with an overdose of paracetamol and three failed hanging attempts before he finally took his life.

Miss Wilson said in a statement read at the hearing that she felt their relationship had run its course and they were frequently arguing.

She left Mr Hennessy in April 2008 but he constantly telephoned her, asking to get back together. She told him to move on and after a while stopped answering his calls, but he would still ring her two or three times a day.

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After learning of his suicide attempts she advised him to seek professional help.

She said learning of his death in August 2008 left her "shocked and stunned" and added: "Maybe I could have done more to help him, but what could I have done. I wish things could have been different."

The hearing was told that, despite the failed suicide attempts and a spell of psychiatric treatment, Mr Hennessy was discharged from hospital.

His GP, Dr Marban Ghani, had previously referred him to the local community mental health team and assumed he was still under the care of the team when he was discharged after 10 days in a psychiatric ward at Kendray Hospital in Barnsley.

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Consultant psychiatrist Dr Mohammed Malik said Mr Hennessy had the support he needed as he was referred to the community team, he had contact with the mental health organisation MIND and was being supported by his employer and his family.

The hearing was adjourned.