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John Garrett O’Sullivan, a 56-year-old man from Culmore Road in Londonderry, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to preventing the lawful burial of his father, Noel O’Sullivan, between July 1 and July 18, 2024. The 86-year-old retired orthodontist and father of three was discovered at the family home, his body wrapped in a duvet and plastic sheets. At Londonderry Crown Court on Tuesday, the judge expressed that O’Sullivan’s actions had brought significant distress to the family.
The judge imposed a three-year sentence but ruled that only half of it—18 months—would be served in custody, the remainder on licence. The case included very distressing details, as the deceased’s head was found inside a refrigerator with his body surrounded by the door of another fridge. Disturbingly, a large nappy covered his head and hands, and a wet wipe-like cloth was inserted in his mouth. Police were called after a welfare concern was raised by the victim’s daughter. Upon entering the property, officers detected a strong odor, leading to the discovery of the body.
John O’Sullivan, who holds a PhD in engineering, explained to police that he did not contact a doctor following his father’s death because the elder O’Sullivan was already deceased, and he believed placing the body in the fridge mirrored procedures at Altnagelvin Hospital. He also stated his intention was to preserve his father’s privacy and dignity, a claim the court scrutinized given the circumstances. Throughout police questioning, he largely chose to respond with “no comment.” There was no previous criminal record, though he was assessed as being at medium risk for reoffending.
The prosecution highlighted several aggravating factors, such as O’Sullivan’s purchase of plastic sheets and bed mats, combined with his failure to notify authorities or others about the death. It also emerged that he had contacted the local health service for advice following the sudden death but neglected to follow their recommendations. The defense argued that O’Sullivan delayed but did not deliberately obstruct burial. They acknowledged his ongoing engagement with community mental health services amid a history of mental health struggles, including a nervous breakdown during the 1990s. The court heard that his relationship with his father was strained and that he had been sleeping in the family garage.
The judge described the situation as a tragedy for the family and stated that O’Sullivan was accountable for the indignity suffered by his father, as well as the anguish caused to surviving relatives. She noted that O’Sullivan held a distorted understanding of how to respect his father’s dignity and criticized his failure to alert emergency services or the police, or to reveal the location of the body. Additionally, the judge pointed out O’Sullivan’s refusal to provide access to his GP notes and recent psychiatric evaluations. As a protective measure, the court ordered that he not approach any family members without prior approval
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