In a deeply distressing turn of events, John Garrett O’Sullivan, a 56-year-old man from Londonderry, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for preventing the lawful burial of his late father, Noel O’Sullivan. The case has left the O’Sullivan family in a state of profound anguish.
According to the court proceedings, Noel O’Sullivan, an 86-year-old retired orthodontist and father of three, passed away between 1 and 18 July 2024. Instead of alerting the authorities or making the necessary arrangements for his father’s burial, John O’Sullivan chose to conceal the death by placing Noel’s body in a refrigerator at their family home.
The grim details of the case emerged when police were called to the Culmore Road residence after receiving a “concern for safety” call from the victim’s daughter. Upon forcing entry, the authorities discovered Noel’s body, wrapped in a duvet and plastic sheets, with his head placed in one fridge and the rest of his body surrounded by the open door of a second fridge. The body had been lying there for some time, and the police reported a strong odour at the scene.
In his statement to the police, John O’Sullivan, who holds a PhD in engineering, claimed that he did not call a doctor because his father was already deceased, and he had placed the body in the fridge, as that was the procedure followed at Altnagelvin Hospital. He also stated that he did not alert anyone about his father’s death, as he wanted to preserve his privacy and dignity.
The prosecution highlighted several aggravating factors, including the purchase of plastic sheets and bed mats, as well as John O’Sullivan’s failure to notify the authorities or other relevant parties about his father’s death and the location of the body. It was also revealed that he had sought advice from the local health service on how to handle a sudden death, but ultimately disregarded the guidance provided.
The defence argued that John O’Sullivan believed he had delayed the lawful burial of his father, rather than preventing it, and that it was not a case of a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice. The court was also made aware of the defendant’s ongoing engagement with the community mental health team and his history of mental health issues, including a nervous breakdown in the 1990s.
In her sentencing, the judge acknowledged the tragedy of the O’Sullivan family and stated that John O’Sullivan had been responsible for the indignity and degradation his father endured, causing considerable anguish to the surviving family members. The judge imposed a three-year sentence, with half to be spent in custody and half on licence, emphasising the need to protect the family from further harm.
This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of seeking appropriate support and guidance during times of grief and loss, rather than resorting to actions that can compound the suffering of those left behind.
