Rescue effort praised at inquest into woman’s death

THE TRAGIC death of a 39-year-old woman whose remains were found in her car in the Irish Sea near Courtown last April, was recalled at her inquest.

Ethna Keeley, of 28, The Elmes, Spollanstown, Tullamore, died on April 12, having entered the sea in her car at Roney Point.

Olivia Keeley gave evidence at Wexford Coroner’s Court that her cousin Ethna called to her house on April 10 and the two spoke for around 90 minutes. The court heard how Ms Keeley was having personal difficulties.

Ms Keeley said she advised her cousin to attend the Bannon Mental Health Centre at Tullamore Hospital. ‘We told each other that we loved each other and I told her to take care of herself. The next thing I heard was that Ethna had died the following Wednesday evening,’ Ms Keeley said.

Robert Ireton of Courtown RNLI said he was paged to attend Roney Point at 12.30 p.m. on April 12. Upon arrival he saw a car in the water. Attempts were made to tow the car back to shore using a rope and eventually a farmer brought a teleporter and the car was removed from the water.

‘We got the car out and I noticed there was a female in the driver’s seat,’ Mr Ireton said.

Mark Keeley, the deceased’s brother, said he identifed Ms Keeley’s remains on April 13 at University Hospital Waterford.

Garda Paul Buckley said he arrived at the scene at Roney Point where he saw a car in the water, 150 metres out. ‘At 3.55 p.m. the car was removed from the water. I observed a female in the car. The identification was made through items in her possession and the car reg.’

The inquest heard that Ms Keeley drove from Tullamore at around 9.20 a.m. that morning and arrived in the Courtown area at around 12 p.m.

Niamh Ryan, who was holidaying in the Donaghmore area with her four children during the Easter break, said her 13-yearold son Oisin and her noticed something that looked like a jet ski in the water further down the beach.

The two walked closer to the vehicle. ‘It was just bobbing in the water. When we got half way towards it the front went down and the back went up. It was at this point I realised it was a car. It was like something on the TV.’

Ms Ryan contacted 999 at around 1 p.m. Consultant pathologist Dr Christine Shilling said death was due to drowning.

County Wexford Coroner Dr Sean Nixon recommended a verdict of death by suicide, which the inquest jury agreed with.

Dr Nixon said Ms Keeley suffered from mental health issues and had been going through a particularly difficult time. He extended his sympathies to Ms Keeley’s family on their tragic loss, saying: ‘She was obviously battling a difficult situation. I really appreciate the fact the family came down to New Ross for this inquest.’

Superintendent John McDonald also expressed his sympathies on behalf of the gardaí. He said: ‘It’s unfortunately something that all of us face.’

Mark Keeley thanked the emergency services on behalf of his mother, who was unable to attend the inquest.

‘We give our sincerest, heartfelt thanks to anyone who was involved in the rescue and to the priest who was there,’ he said.