Suicide man may have been dead for weeks
Activity on a man’s bank account had to be analysed in an attempt to establish when he had taken his own life, an inquiry into his death heard.
The Inquest at Galway Courthouse concluded with an estimation that the 36 year old man died sometime between March and April 2014.
His neighbour had raised the alarm by alerting Gardaí in July to a very bad smell from the apartment. He told the inquiry that there was a build-up of post and a lot of flies inside the home, during a very hot period in the summer.
“On July 1, the smell was so intense – I could get it inside my house – like there was something rotting,” he said.
Garda Michael O’Malley climbed through a small window, where he found the remains hanging.
There was a suicide note left in the apartment.
“There was difficulty finding out when he was last seen alive,” he said, adding that the neighbour had not seen him for about two months.
Bank statements in the apartment revealed that the last withdrawal was made at the Tuam Road branch of the AIB on March 15, while all subsequent activity related to social welfare payments, direct debits, or standing orders.
Consultant pathologist, Dr Birgits Tietz, said that the remains presented to her on July 2 were in an advanced state of decomposition, and partly mummified, which was consistent with death “many weeks ago.”
She said that there was no “obvious pathology” for this reason, and DNA samples had to be sent for analysis to establish the man’s identity.
Dr Tietz advised Coroner for West Galway, Dr Ciaran MacLoughlin, that death was likely about three months before he was found.
His brother told the inquiry that the dead man was estranged from most of his family. The only contact was with his mother, whom he contacted about once a month, but it was not unusual for him to be out of touch for six months.
“The last time she spoke to him was before Christmas,” he said.
“She told me in April that she hadn’t heard from him, and she wanted me to go up, slip a note under the door, and contact him.
“He has been estranged from his family, as he was aggressive and violent, and I said it was not a good idea. I suggested she contact the mental health services, and contact him in that way.”
He had read the suicide note, but could not assist the inquiry in pinpointing the exact date of death.
Dr MacLoughlin returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, that the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging.
He offered his sincere sympathies to the man’s brother, mother, and other family members on the tragic circumstances of his early and unexpected death.
His brother said that he would pass on these sentiments to his family.