Malanda alleged assisted suicide: Anthony Smyth’s son’s desperate effort to help parents

The son of a Far North couple involved in an alleged assisted suicide has spoken of the distressing time before his stepmum died. How he tried to help.

THE son of a Far North couple involved in an alleged assisted suicide has spoken of the heart-wrenching phone calls as he desperately scrambled to help his parents before the death of his stepmum and arrest of his father.

Malanda man Anthony Nigel Smyth, 76, is currently on bail in the Cairns Mental Health Unit, charged with aiding the suicide of his wife Marijke O’Hearn on July 24. The matter returns to Cairns Magistrates court on October 2 for mention.

Mr Smyth’s Sydney-based son David Braybrooke said his father had been married to his stepmum Ms O’Hearn for more than 20 years and the couple were enjoying retirement on a rural property just outside Malanda.

“They were doting one another,” he said.

Malanda couple Anthony Nigel Smyth and Marijke O’Hearn in 2017 set to embark on a cruise ship. Ms O'Hearn died on July 24, while Mr Smyth was charged with aiding suicide.

But he said Ms O’Hearn hadn’t been well for a number of years with a degenerative health condition that had been causing her a lot of pain.

“It seems to me accessing the healthcare they needed … there was problems. I was ringing up from Sydney trying to get them some home help, nurses, things like that and it was just so hard.”

Mr Braybrooke said on July 24 he “tried to get someone to listen” and request a welfare check on his parents.

“My efforts to have my parents assisted through multiple phone calls, emails, official police complaints, mental health department inquiries, hospital calls, communication with family friends and more was to no avail.

“It’s such a horrible position to be in.”

The Malanda main street. Anthony Nigel Smyth and wife Marijke O’Hearn lived on a rural property just outside the town.

Mr Braybrooke said he was especially upset and angry with the Queensland Police Service.

He said police did conduct a welfare check prior to his stepmother being found dead.

Mr Braybrooke said the tragic situation had “torn the family apart”, none of which resided in Queensland and that he’d had limited contact with his father since.

“He’s not wanting to speak to people, but I understand he is upset and angry,” he said.

Mr Braybrooke, said Ms O’Hearn was a “brave” person who didn’t get to live a full life due to her health conditions.

“She was quite a gentle person, she loved doing arts and crafts, she was very creative,” he said.

“Previous to her health issues developing, she was a psychiatric nurse.”

Originally published as Malanda alleged assisted suicide: Anthony Smyth’s son’s desperate effort to help parents