Accidental death verdict

A VERDICT of accidental death was recorded in the inquest of a New Ross woman who was found in the bath.

Giving evidence during the inquest into the death of Catherine O’Shea (62), 8 Robert Street, New Ross, Garda Donal Doyle, said that on November 19, 2016 he received a call from the garda station saying concern had been raised about Ms O’Shea who hadn’t been seen for 24 hours.

Garda Doyle said Ms O’Shea had missed a hair appointment which was very unusual for her.

He arrived at her home at 8.30 p,m. and saw the lights were on both upstairs and downstairs. However he was unable to get an answer when he knocked on the door.

He spoke to her neighbour Stephen Graham who said that he had a key to Ms O’Shea’s house and gave it to him.

Garda Doyle found Ms. O’Shea in the bathtub which was half filled with water. He said there was no sign of foul play and her bathrobe had been neatly folded at the foot of the bath.

Ms O’Shea’s sister, Mary Hogan, from Carlow town identified the body of her sister to Garda Doyle.

Pathologist Dr Maurice Murphy said he performed the post mortem on Ms O’Shea and found no external or internal abnormalities. He said death was due to cardiac respiratory arrest secondary to drowning.

County coroner Dr Sean Nixon said Ms O’Shea had gone for a bath and collapsed in the bath, possibly due to a drop in blood pressure because of the temperature.

He recommended that the jury of six men return a verdict of accidental death which they duly did.

Dr Nixon extended sympathy to Ms O’Shea’s family on their sad loss.

Inspector Clince and jury foreman Seamus Whelan also extended sympathy to the family on behalf of the gardai and jury respectively.