Irish suicide victim’s family sues NYPD, Queens hospital and FDNY

Family of Meath native Paul O’Shaughnessy goes public with lawsuit

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MOLLY MULDOON,

Irish Voice Reporter

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Paul O’Shaughnessy (pictured) died at the age of 44 on Friday, September 28

Photo by Handout

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The family of a Co. Meath immigrant, who took his own life in September, have filed a lawsuit against the New York Police Department, Elmhurst Hospital in Queens and the Fire Department of New York EMS over his treatment in the lead up to his death.

Paul O’Shaughnessy died at the age of 44 on Friday, September 28. A native of Trim, Co. Meath, he lived in Sunnyside, Queens for almost 20 years with his wife Susan and their four children Haley, 16, Sean, 11, Michael, 9, and Paul, 6.

According to a post on the O'Shaughnessy Family Fund website, a lawsuit was filed on Friday, November 30 over his death.

The post states, “Whether this suit succeeds or not is neither here nor there - all his family wants is for someone within the system to acknowledge that he did not receive the courtesy, professionalism and respect of the NYPD, nor the medical care he deserved at Elmhurst Hospital.”

The family says O’Shaughnessy was charged with felony weapons possession for holding a knife to his own throat. He was then held in jail for a period of time.

After what the family described as “a month of hell,” the 44-year-old took his own life. They feel the efforts by emergency officials to get O’Shaughnessy the help he needed was inadequate.

A family friend, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed concern about the rising number of suicides within the Irish community in New York.

“The problem is a lot of people of Irish descent who have depression feel they can’t talk about things,” she told the Irish Voice.

“I am not just talking about Paul, it’s the community as a whole.”

Read More: Suicide and depression major problems for young Irish in New York

The Queens resident, who has known the O'Shaughnessy family for over 15 years, paid tribute to the Meath man.

“He was a great person, he always looked after everybody,” she said. “He worked hard. He was a good man.”

The family did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This Sunday, December 16, a fundraiser will be held for the O’Shaughnessy family at Sidetracks in Sunnyside (45-08 Queens Boulevard) from noon until midnight.

Leo Reynolds, a committee member for the benefit said the event is very much a community based effort

“Paul was a friend of mine for over 20 years,” Reynolds, originally from Co. Meath, told the Irish Voice.

“He was a popular guy in the neighborhood.  He was a great carpenter; he did a lot of bar fronts in the tri–state area.

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