Just over two years ago, a terrified man told a colleague that he feared his son was ‘going to do me in’.
Within a week, 68-year-old Stephen Peter O’Brien, from Melbourne, was dead.
His son Scott had never moved out of the family home and his erratic behaviour had led to a ‘significant history’ of violence towards his parents which went unreported, the Victorian Coroners Court heard.
On January 6, 2023, Mr O’Brien spoke to his sister for the final time and told her he did not want to go home because he was concerned about his son’s mental health.
Scott thought his father was a federal police officer and whenever he went home his son accused him of spying, Mr O’Brien told his sister.
He called a farm owner and said he intended to go to work on January 9, but he never made it there.
The next day Mr O’Brien’s daughter requested a welfare check and police found him dead, covered in blood, on the floor of his Wyndham Vale home in Melbourne‘s south-west.
An autopsy revealed he had died from blunt force injury to his head, due to multiple blows with a tool.
The police found Peter O’Brien dead, covered in blood, on the floor of his Wyndham Vale home (pictured) in Melbourne’s south-west
Scott was arrested on January 11 and charged with his father’s murder, but was found not guilty by reason of mental impairment in April, 2024.
State Coroner John Cain, in findings released on Thursday, said Mr O’Brien spent years trying to manage Scott’s behaviour and violence to keep himself and his late wife Elizabeth safe.
Scott had assaulted Mr O’Brien several times, leading to bruising, black eyes and at least one hospitalisation for a facial fracture, the coroner said.
The father had told others he was stressed and frightened by his son’s behaviour and often booked accommodation to have a break.
Scott would shout at his father while he was on the phone and threaten anyone who came to visit their home.
He reportedly had a diagnosis of schizophrenia but did not take medication or get treatment as he presented as ‘functioning OK’, the coroner said.
Friends had offered Mr O’Brien free rent and work in Bendigo after his wife died, but he turned the offers down ‘because of Scott’.
Judge Cain said Mr O’Brien’s case was ‘sadly’ one of several before the court where an adult child with undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues had assaulted or killed an older parent.
Just over two years ago, a terrified man told a colleague that he feared his son was ‘going to do me in’. Stock image
He said many barriers had prevented Mr O’Brien from getting help for his son, including fear of negative consequences for Scott, lack of knowledge about resources available to him and that he may not have recognised it as elder abuse.
He urged the Victorian government to raise awareness about elder abuse through targeted campaigns and community education, to empower them to understand what it is and to report it.
Mr O’Brien’s situation was not unique, Judge Cain said as he pointed to Mind Australia data that half of the nation’s mental health carers’ support needs were not being met, and 35 per cent did not know that support was available.
‘Stephen was a “hidden” carer in that he did not identify as a mental health carer and was not receiving benefits to care for his son,’ he said.
The coroner said it was ‘critical’ the state government work to identify hidden carers and support them through mechanisms such as a carer assessment tool via GPs, health centres and schools.
The Senior’s Rights Victoria charity says that elder abuse is often hidden and that an older person may not identify what’s happening to them as abuse.
‘They may cover up the signs due to fear of what may happen if anyone finds out or they might be unaware that the perpetrator’s actions are a form of abuse.’
It added that abuse may happen without any indicators or signs, but said that ‘even if you are not sure, it is best to follow up on any suspicion of elder abuse’.
The types of abuse range from emotional or psychological abuse to neglect, to financial, physical, social or sexual abuse.
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