Last updated at 15:44, Saturday, 07 July 2012

A SCHIZOPHRENIC was found hanged in his Barrow flat, an inquest heard.

Glenn McAloone was found dead in his Egerton Court home on March 5. The inquest into the 45-year-old’s death heard his brother had no idea he was living in the area.

A report from a consultant psychiatrist at Dane Garth Mental Health Unit in Furness General Hospital confirmed Mr McAloone had chronic schizophrenia.

His brother, Steven McAloone, of North Row, Barrow, told the hearing in Barrow Town Hall they had not been in contact at the time of his death.

He said: “My mum was taken ill over Christmas 2006 and rushed into hospital. Shortly before, about September, my brother had gone into working on a crop picking holiday in the United States.

“Unfortunately at the time, we were unable to get hold of him. Prior to my mother’s death, that was the last contact we had.”

Mr McAloone told the inquest he heard secondhand his brother had at one point set up home in Manchester. But after his death, he learned his brother, who he described as “always of a very nervous disposition”, had ended up living back in Barrow for around three years.

When police contacted him to say he had died, Mr McAloone said it was a “complete shock” to learn that, not only had his brother died, but he had been back in the area for so long.

Mr Ian Smith, South and East Cumbria coroner, recorded a verdict of death as a result of Mr McAloone’s own actions, while suffering with mental illness.

Summing up, the coroner said: “He was found hanging and that was investigated by the police to ensure it was what it seemed. And it was.

“This is not something a third-party was involved in. His mental health was an issue over a period of time and I’ve got confirmation in black and white of a specific diagnosis of schizophrenia.”

Mr McAloone told the Evening Mail after the hearing: “He will be sadly missed and I’d like to thank family, friends and close friends for their messages of condolence and support following the sad loss of Glenn.”

First published at 10:38, Saturday, 07 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk