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Photos Lead To Closer Look At Western Psych Attack

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Sep 4, 2009 9:21 pm US/Eastern

Photos Lead To Closer Look At Western Psych Attack

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― A KDKA investigation has state health officials taking a closer look at an assault at UPMC's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

Investigators are considering a number of actions after 63-year-old Richard Kelleher, a patient, was allegedly assaulted by another patient.

Shortly after seeing photos obtained by the KDKA Investigators, the State Department of Welfare took action.

"We were shocked and very concerned that the way that we had we had learned of this incident was that the victim had minor injuries," Stacey Witalec, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Welfare, said.

That information came from UPMC Western Psych. They told state investigators the injuries to Richard Kelleher were minor and called the alleged assault un-reportable.

Right now, the State Department of Public Welfare doesn't see it that way.

"Right now it raises grave concerns for us that this would be described as a minor incident when we saw an individual who clearly had received a pretty serious blow to the face maybe multiple times with the extent of the injuries that the staff saw," Witalec said.

Investigators with the State Department of Welfare spent several hours at a Mercy Hospital facility where Kelleher has been transferred.

His detailed account of the attack and their firsthand look at his injuries has the state discussing possible corrective action against Western Psych.

"We could take licensing action if we find out that the facility is not doing things correctly in determining what are the patient's risks," Witalec says, "whether it's from their past or from somebody else's past that's living with them - how much are you placing people at risk when they are living in the same area?"

In this case, the Western Psych patient that's accused of attacking Kelleher has an extensive criminal record that includes arrests for assault, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.

Kelleher's family welcomes the investigation.

"My husband is the most passive, loving, caring father," Rose Kelleher, the victim's wife, said. "I've been married to him for 31 years. Marty … it's unbelievable that it happened to him."

The investigation will take up to two weeks and any possible action will be taken at that time.

KDKA's Marty Griffin made several attempts to get comment from UPMC but they have not spoken on the matter.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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