DOUBLE FALL DEATH TRAGEDY
‘Frail’ Patrick and Margaret’s bodies found in bedroom
A “FRAIL” elderly couple were found dead in their bedroom yesterday in a double fall tragedy.
It’s thought Patrick Doherty, in his 80s, fell trying to help wife Margaret, in her 70s, after she hit her head in Convoy, Co Donegal.
The couple’s nephew Liam Doherty said: “They were a very modest couple who kept to themselves. This is just a huge shock.”
I wouldn’t say they had good health ...they were frail in their 70s and 80s LIAM DOHERTY CONVOY YESTERDAY
A VILLAGE was rocked by a double tragedy yesterday after an elderly couple died in their home.
It’s believed Patrick Doherty was killed trying to help his frail wife Margaret who had fallen and hit her head.
A niece found the couple’s lifeless bodies in their home at Convoy, Co Donegal.
Devastated nephew Liam Doherty told the Irish Daily Mirror: “There is nothing as of yet indicating anything suspicious.
“It seems Margaret took a fall and possibly hit her head off a dresser. Pat was in the bedroom, I believe Pat got out of bed to help her and he also took a fall.”
A Garda source said there was no sign of trauma to the couple and there were also no signs of a break-in to their whitewashed Fountain Terrace home on the outskirts of the village.
They added: “We obviously have to examine every possible cause of death but ...the results of the postmortems will determine what direction any future investigation will take.”
FRAIL
Mr Doherty, a Sinn Fein councillor, said the news is a big shock to the family and the community.
He added: “My sister, Pat and Margaret’s niece, called in to see them and found them, they live close by and we have been checking up on them on a regular basis.
“I had only called around to them yesterday and left the newspapers into them. I wouldn’t say they were in good health, they were frail aged in their 70s and 80s.”
The couple moved back to the area around 15 years ago after living in the UK where Pat worked in the construction industry.
Margaret was originally from Galway and has a sister still living there.
Mr Doherty said the couple were happily married and retired in the town. He added: “They were a very modest couple who kept to themselves, they were happily married and had no children.
“This is just a huge shock for everyone that knew them.”
The house was sealed off and a full forensic investigation was carried out by gardai. Donegal county coroner Dr Denis Mccauley also attended the scene.
The bodies were removed from the house and postmortems are due to take place at Letterkenny University Hospital.