Built in 1909, the abandoned Heatherside Hospital in County Cork, Ireland operated as a tuberculosis sanatorium until 1957. After that, it was used a psychogeriatric facility by the HSE up until 2010, when it closed its doors despite public outcry.
The vast abandoned site is spread over 20 acres of land and comprises of the main hospital complex, a church, laundry shed, x-ray building, and staff residence.
In 2006, Heatherside Hospital was in the spotlight when patient Hannah Comber (65), choked to death while being strapped to a chair and the Sunday Tribune published a story about it. Large-scale investigations were launched by An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive (HSE) and it wasn’t until 3 years later that the murder probe was completed.
The details that emerged according to the Irish Examiner, are as follows:
“On the night Ms Comber died, she had become restless after getting out of bed. Staff then put her in a chair in the day room.
A restraining belt had been put around the woman and it’s believed that when she fell asleep she slipped down the chair and her neck was compressed by the buckle of the belt. As a result, she died of asphyxia.
An inquest into her death recorded a verdict of misadventure.”
The Director of Public Prosecutions decided no charges would follow Ms Comber’s death.
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