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Ex-police fished out of canal
Police ranks bringing the body to land with the aid of a public spirited citizen
…suicide suspected
The body of Joseph Holligan, a 69-year-old former policeman of Agricola East Bank Demerara was yesterday day fished out of the Eccles/Agricola koker outfall.
His body was spotted tucked close to the mangrove by some fishermen who said that they immediately identified people at the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) who immediately contacted the police.
Police ranks had to be ferried out by one of the fisherman in a small boat and the body brought to a section of the dam where it could be pulled to land.
The men would usually traverse the canal as they come off of the river to buy lunch.
Scores of onlookers converged to get a glimpse of the floating body and there was rife speculation that it might have been that of the missing trawler captain.
That was allayed when police ranks turned the body over on to his back and persons familiar with Holligan immediately recognized the dead man.
A family member subsequently identified him positively despite the advanced state of decomposition.
This newspaper understands that Holligan has had a history of suicide attempts. His sister, Cheryl Barker, said that she was the last of 10. She said that some five years ago a doctor diagnosed her brother with prostate cancer but this information was not passed on.
Soon after, another doctor diagnosed Holligan with a stroke but this diagnosis was ignored when another doctor diagnosed him with arthritis of the neck.
The problem began when he learnt of his ailment and this was after he had a difficulty urinating. Ever since then he told his relatives that no individual had a right to suffer.
Cheryl Barker said that their mother succumbed to cancer. Holligan recalled her suffering.
Ever since his cancer diagnosis he has been trying to end his life, Cheryl Barker said.
She recalled that on one occasion he sent a relative to buy rat poison. When the relative failed to comply he tried to hang himself. That attempt failed when a relative happened to pay a visit at the same time. The relative cut him down.
At one time he was involved in an accident but was heard saying that he was in too much pain and wanted it to end.
He also reportedly tried to kill himself by hurling his body under a truck.
Holligan was last seen on Thursday evening by a caretaker. He was reported missing on Friday.
A Post Mortem is slated to be provided on tomorrow.
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