A grief-stricken pet lover took his own life just days after his elderly cat died in his arms. Bournemouth Coroner’s Court heard how heartbroken Michael McAleese, 44, had posted a moving YouTube video tribute to 13-year-old tabby Sophie, five days after she passed away from a stroke, saying: “This is in her memory. She was such a wonderful little cat. This is a montage tribute to my beloved Sophie cat. I loved her so much and still do.”
Eight days later Mr McAleese’s body was found at his lodgings in Hillcrest Road, Parkstone, Poole. He had taken a drugs cocktail including Secobarbital, which is no longer prescribed by the NHS. But pathologist Dr Sherie Haider said toxicology tests had shown that the level of the ‘dangerous’ sedative had been within the therapeutic range and she was unable to ascertain the cause of Mr McAleese’s death.
YouTube link.
His landlady Adriana van Dijk told the court how she gave him Sophie because he had grown so attached to her. “As soon as Michael saw Sophie he seemed to fall in love with her. I was away a lot so he looked after her. She had the sweetest nature and they totally clicked. She was like a child to him. He was devastated when she died and phoned me in the middle of the night. He slept with her for three days until he couldn’t stand the smell any longer.
“I tried to persuade him life was more than a cat, but in his case it wasn’t.” In a statement, coroner’s officer David Tong said a book had been found be-side Mr McAleese’s body with instructions on how to commit suicide, and several notes were also discovered. He added: “The flat was very tidy; it looked like everything was prepared for his death.” Coroner Sheriff Payne recorded a verdict Mr McAleese took his own life.
6 comments:
It is difficult for the young to understand this sort of thing. As you get older and all your friends start dying off, it is easier to know why it happens. I'm not saying I'd commit suicide over the death of a pet, but the emotional attachment is something I understand very well.
This is too sad. I can't even make myself watch the video.
I'm 42 and have two beloved pet cats but I'd no sooner think of killing myself if they died than I would if a friend died... I imagine this guy didn't have much of a social network so the cat was really all he had. I don't think it has anything to do with age.
I'm 43 and have been suicidal all my life. I have major depression which was finally treated with medication only in the last few years. Though the meds help, I think about suicide every week. It used to be every day. My cat is my best friend. She is about 12 years old now. I have been planning to kill myself after she dies. I can't kill myself while she is alive. Apparently this is more common than I knew.
I undertsnad this gentle man... they are together again now and happy.
Its hard for some to understand. I just wish he would have lived for another cat. RIP both of you.
Post a Comment