Generation 1
Patrick Parnell Healy was born in Kyeburn on 11 April 1889, the 6th of ten Healy children. His baptism record states: Healy Patrick Parnell; born 11/04/1889; baptised 28/04/1890; father Thomas Healy; mother Maggie Gallagher; address Kyeburn; minister John Sheehan; godparents: Andrew Kearney & Mrs Healy; Omakau Book 11 (# Bap 1), pg 59/2. He was enrolled at Kyeburn School on 13 September 1899 (Register No 223) along with his sister Susan. The teacher at the time was Mr William Bannerman.
The following describes the very sad life of Patrick, what happened to him, and the circumstances surrounding his death. These notes are compiled from his medical history obtained from the Otago District Health Board and it makes harrowing reading. The letter accompanying the release of the file notes that some terms used in the records are now "not politically correct" and advises caution in their use.
His story is told here because of the historical and family significance, and is not intended to upset or offend anyone. It is important in any family history for the truth to prevail. This will be contrary to what many members of the family believe or the stories they were told by their elders.
On 14 August 1914, under Section 5 of the Mental Defectives Act of 1911, his mother Margaret Healy of Kyeburn, applied to have Patrick, along with his two sisters and brother, committed to a mental hospital, saying:
"He is unable to read or write. He cannot be taught. He has been an imbecile since birth."
At this time he was 24 years of age, and the documents lists his three siblings: Catherine, Susan and Francis as also being imbeciles. Patrick was noted as being "not suicidal, dangerous or epileptic".
The events which resulted in Patrick's committal were well-documented in medical certificates required at the time. A Constable Lemm of Naseby stated that "the patient does nothing, wanders about the hills half-naked - like animals, is not under proper control as both parents are addicted to alcoholism." A Doctor Allen examined Patrick and declared: "He is a dull adolescent, evidently of happy temperament, smiling to himself all the time. He does not know his age and is obviously incapable of looking after himself."
"Constable Lemm, Naseby, informs me that the parents are drunken and they are not properly looked after. The patient wanders about the hills improperly clad and ill-fed," said another medical practitioner.
The medical report states that Patrick was in good bodily health, free from infectious disease or recent injury. This is contrary to what the family was told - there was a story that Patrick contracted TB and died when he was 17 years old. While TB was rife in Central Otago in the early 1900s, the records show that Patrick did not suffer from it, although one note said "he is of a tuberculosis type, the body being covered with fine lanugo hairs."
On the Application for a Reception-Order under the Mental Defectives Act 1911, there was a question which asked if there were any near relatives of unsound mind or mentally infirm. The document lists three others:
It also lists brothers as:
Sisters:
The notes provide a definition of an imbecile - a term used in the medical records of the time: A person of moderate to severe mental retardation having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.
The substantial records give a clear picture of Patrick's life at Seacliff, where Dr Truby King (who established the Plunket Society) was the Superintendent until 1921. (For information about the life of King, see the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography website.)
The medical remarks on Patrick's file when he was examined state:
This description is consistent with the signs and symptoms of congenital hyopthyroidism which it is believed Patrick and his younger brother Francis possibly suffered from, as well as his two sisters Susan and Catherine.
Regular (6 monthly) assessments of Patrick where undertaken, and when compiled into a timeline, show his slow deterioration in health until his death in March 1970.
In his early years at Seacliff, he was able to work in the wards, cleaning, polishing and sweeping floors, and performing simple duties. By the early 1930s, Patrick was suffering from ulcers on his left leg, and was occasionally confined to bed. However by the end of 1935, his behaviour and health was slowly deteriorating. He needed regular supervision to help bathe and dress.
By 1940 he was noted as being destructive, dirty and difficult to manage, and he was incapable of work. There was a gap in his medical records until 1950 when he was noted as being a cripple who required everything doing for him, including bathing and dressing, and extensive nursing care.
By 1953, Patrick had a varicose ulcer on his left leg which he constantly scratched and removed the dressing. He was not able to walk and propelled himself around by means of his hands and buttocks.
In 1957, he was recorded as a vegetable, with total supervision being required. Later in the year the notes show him as being a well-behaved crippled old man, unemployable, incontinent of both urine and faeces, requiring constant oversight with regard to personal cleanliness and dress.
In 1959, Patrick was noted as being a feeble-minded man of low intelligence, unemployed, doubly incontinent at times, requiring supervision for personal cleanliness and dress.
By 1961, he was confined to a wheelchair, and towards the end of the 1960s, he was bedridden, suffering from chronic incontinence. He had a couple of falls where he was injured, and spent time in Dunedin Hospital for treatment for the incontinence.
The last few months up to his death must have been very difficult for the nursing staff, and very painful and uncomfortable for Patrick. He was placed on valium to control his behaviour and pain, and the nursing notes state that he was under constant supervision and care.
Finally, on 9 March 1970, notification was sent to Dunedin City Council that Patrick died in Cherry Farm Hospital on 7 March 1970, and requested a free cremation. The medical notes show that Patrick died at 2.15 am after being administered pain killers by a doctor several hours earlier. He was 80 years of age.
A letter from his sister Rose Johnson dated 19 February 1968 to the Superintendent of Cherry Farm advised that she was now 84 and the sole remaining member of the family. She advised that her brother was christened a Roman Catholic and requested that when Patrick died, he was to be cremated.
These instructions were carried out, and following his cremation, the ashes were scattered on 11 March 1970.
Thus ended the long and tragic life of Patrick Parnell Healy. He had spent 56 years at Seacliff, and was the last of the four Healy family members who were committed to Seacliff in August 1914 to die.
No photos of Patrick have been located.