Irene Veronica Josephine Aherne

Irene Aherne was a delightful person, vital, determined, serious, humorous, sensible and original.

On qualifying, she joined the TB Services, then she switched to Psychiatry. After gaining her qualifications, she was appointed to a junior post, and then promoted to consultant where she took a keen interest in rehabilitation, pioneering group therapy in the intensive care or secure wards of Our Lady’s Hospital, Cork, now closed.

Her care for patients and their welfare was exceptional. I recall her climbing up a drain pipe that was loosely attached, with a fall of over 20 feet, to gain access to the flat of an elderly lady who was a cause of great concern to many.

Irene was very simple, open and direct. During the course of her training I suggested she should give expert witness in Court. Her first case was in the Cork Circuit Court and the Judge at the time was very conservative and strict. He had announced from the bench on several occasions that he much preferred the evidence of priests and probation officers to that of psychologists and psychiatrists. He had a tendency to ask a series of almost stereotyped questions if one made reference to a deprived or traumatic childhood, examples being, what do you mean he suffered in childhood, did he say his prayers, did he make his First Communion, did he make his Confirmation, and so on, something some experts found hard to cope with. I helped her prepare for this the night before, shooting such questions at her in rapid succession.

The next day, in the course of her evidence, his Lordship did the same, whereupon Irene collapsed with laughter. The Judge said, in very surprised fashion, ‘Doctor you seem to find my questions very funny’. She looked him in the eye, smiled, and said last night my tutor Doctor D helped me prepare the presentation of my evidence, including your questions, and you have asked the same questions in the same sequence and tone of voice as he did, and she looked down the court room at me, then back at his Lordship, and laughed again.

His Lordship smiled, said, I do like a well prepared witness, and took her recommendations very seriously.

Unfortunately, she developed progressive impairment of her hearing, and despite all sorts of hearing aids and amplifiers, she had to take early retirement, spending her time with her sister, until her sister died less than a year before her.

She would appear from time to time seeking advice or help for somebody needing it, and remaining cheerful and active until her death, being seen on the roof of her house effecting an emergency repair only three weeks before her sudden and unexpected death.

A lovely lady. We offer sympathy to her brother, nieces and nephews, with whom we share her loss.