Overview
- His wife, Naomi Sheehan, confirmed Wednesday that Patrick died in a Northern Ireland hospice, where he had been admitted about ten days earlier and was with family and friends.
- Patrick was diagnosed on February 1, 2023 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a motor neuron disease that progressively weakens muscles and can impair speech, swallowing, and breathing.
- In a February 2026 health update, he said he declined a tracheostomy and chose to focus on time at home given staffing limits for long-term care and a short prognosis.
- Known for a brief role in Game of Thrones, he also appeared in Blue Lights and other series, and in 2024 became the first actor with a disability to play Richard III in Ireland.
- He won the Judges’ Award at the Stage Awards in January 2025, drew tributes from Belfast’s Lyric Theatre and the MAC after his death, and had documented his illness and fundraising needs, highlighting gaps in support for people with degenerative diseases.