Jacintha Saldanha’s body flown to India, Funeral to be held in Shirva on Sunday

Mangalore Today News Network

London, December 14, 2012:  The body of Mangalore nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who commited suicide after being duped by a prank call to a U.K. hospital treating a pregnant Princess Kate, was on Friday flown to India, official sources said, amid reports that she had criticised her senior colleagues in one of the three emotional suicide notes she left behind.

Saldanha’s body was transported by a Jet Airways flight to Mumbai, where it will reach at 0030 hrs Saturday, the sources said.

It will be flown to Mangalore on December 16 for funeral to be held at Shirva near Udupi, they said.

Saldanha wrote three emotional notes revealing the anguish that led to her suicide after she was duped by two Australian radio DJs into believing they were royalty, the Daily Mirror reported.

In one of the notes, the distraught mum-of-two outlines how she struggled to come to terms with the prank call by Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian to the hospital where 30-year-old Kate was being treated for severe morning sickness.

But in another she criticises her senior colleagues at the King Edward VII hospital over her treatment after the pair had pretended to be the Queen and Prince Charles asking about the duchess’ condition.

It is believed the nurse’s suicide note has left her grieving family furious, with her husband Ben Barboza believed to be favouring an inquiry.

 

MEMORIAL SERVICE AS HOSPITAL PRAISES ’OUTSTANDING’ JACINTHA

King Edward VII Hospital today held a memorial service for nurse Jacintha Saldanha as bosses praised her for being ’an outstanding nurse, doing her duty caring for sick patients’.

Hospital chief John Lofthouse said: ’Everybody knew Jacintha, and we were all left deeply shocked by her tragic death following the hoax telephone call. Today’s service was a chance for everyone here to pay their respects and remember a dear colleague.’

A spokesman said she could not comment on the notes found in Jacintha’s room because ’no-one at the hospital has seen these notes’.

But she added: ’We would reiterate that Jacintha was an outstanding nurse, doing her duty caring for sick patients.

’Following the hoax call hospital management offered her their support and told her that they considered her the victim of a cruel hoax.

’They stood by her actions, and made it clear there was no criticism of her, and that there would be no disciplinary action of any kind.’

Hospital chairman Lord Glenarthur said: ’We have been cooperating fully with the police and the coroner’s investigation ever since Jacintha’s death.

’We are determined to understand the full facts of what happened, and hope that everyone will join with us in assisting the coroner as the best way to achieve this.’

The spokesman added that the hospital has been ’in regular contact’ with Ms Saldanha’s family ’since shortly after’ her death last week.

’We can confirm that we met with the family earlier in the week, and answered all of their questions in full,’ the spokesman said. ’The family asked that the contents of the meeting remain private, and so you will appreciate that we cannot go into any further detail.’

Mr Lofthouse added: ’We will continue to do all we can for Jacintha’s family. But we understand completely that whatever we do for them, it will never be enough to bring back their beloved wife and mother.’


MASS FOR JACINTHA SALDANHA

A mass will be held on Saturday for Ms Saldanha at London’s Westminster Cathedral.

The mass will be offered ’for the repose of the soul of Jacintha and her grieving family’, a spokesman for Westminster Cathedral said.

’We would hope to hold a more formal memorial after the inquest has concluded.’