A 102-year-old man with dementia who died after he was allegedly assaulted in a pub “deteriorated” after suffering a fractured hip, an inquest opening has heard.
Phillip Ormerod, a great-grandfather from Cwmbran, South Wales, died in hospital on 12 August following an incident at the Crow’s Nest pub in the town 11 days earlier.
Mr Ormerod is understood to have been visiting his local pub for a drink when he went onto a stage in the venue to complain about the volume of the music.
An inquest opening at Gwent Coroner’s Court on Monday heard the 102-year-old “sustained a fall” at the pub “following an allegation that he was pushed”.
Senior coroner Caroline Saunders said Mr Ormerod was subsequently taken to hospital with a fractured hip.
Despite receiving medical treatment, his condition “deteriorated” and he was pronounced dead on 12 August, the short hearing heard.
The coroner said Mr Ormerod, who was born in 1923, previously worked as a design engineer. Following his death, he was identified by his son, Robert.
A provisional date for an inquest into Mr Ormerod’s death was set in May next year.
Gwent Police previously said a 56-year-old man from Llanelli was arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault following the incident. He remains on bail.
The coroner confirmed: “The inquest will be formally suspended until those criminal investigations have been concluded.”
Robert Ormerod previously told the Press Association he wanted justice for his father, who he described as a popular character who young people would buy beer for when he visited the bar.
Robert said previously: “He wasn’t going to live forever but it’s not a nice way, obviously in pain. We want to see justice, of course. It has obviously made it difficult.
“It would’ve been nice if he’d gone quietly in his sleep. He was in hospital, suffering, for a week-and-a-half. It’s not nice.”
When speaking about his relationship with his father, Robert added: “I used to visit him regularly, and then towards the end me and my brother used to keep the house clean as best we could, and buy his food because his eyesight had deteriorated.
“(He was diagnosed with dementia) a couple of years ago, he probably had it before that.”
