Adventurous hermit, 90, died after trying to climb Donegal’s highest peak
Inquest hears Myles, 90, did not tell anyone where he was going
A 90-year-old man who was given permission by the Church to become a hermit, died of a cardiac event and hypothermia after trying to climb a mountain, an inquest was told yesterday.
The hearing into the death of Myles Gallagher was held before coroner Dr Denis Mccauley at Letterkenny Courthouse, Donegal.
Mr Gallagher, who was from Baltony in Gortahork, was renowned for his devotion to prayer and his extraordinary life.
His inquest heard how on December 2, 2022, at 2.15pm he called into a shop in Falcarragh belonging to his nephew Seamus Mcgee.
He asked him to drive him to Errigal Mountain so he could climb it but he refused saying it was too late in the day.
Mr Magee heard later that day Mr Gallagher had contacted another man, Patrick Mcmenamin and he had taken him to Dunlewey close to Errigal after saying he wanted to go visit some local people.
Mr Mcmenamin recalled he had not noticed anything unusual about the pensioner that day and they had spoken about his childhood and other things.
He added Mr Gallagher asked to be dropped off at the “old church” at Dunlewey saying he wanted to visit people but did not mention of his intention to climb the mountain as he knew he would tell his nephew.
Mr Mcgee became concerned later and he called to his uncle’s home but he wasn’t there.
The front door was open as was normal when he was not at home, and everything was in place.
Mr Magee said “I knew his form” and added he contacted gardai later that afternoon informing officers his uncle was missing from his home.
After waiting through the night, Mr Mcgee told the inquest that at 4.30am the following day he was told a body had been found on Errigal by the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team.
He said: “We had a good relationship but I had no idea that would be the last time I would see him.”
The inquest heard gardai became concerned for Mr Gallagher and had contacted the Malin Head Coastguard Rescue who had scrambled the Rescue 118 helicopter from Sligo to the scene.
A statement read out on behalf of Lee Boyd of the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team confirmed a body was located on the mountain by the Rescue 118 team at 3.31am.
He added there was no sign of any heat signatures from the body.
At 4.10am members of the Donegal Mountain Rescue team reached the location of the body and it was confirmed to be that of Mr Gallagher who was unresponsive and pale in colour.
Gda Mark O’sullivan, of Milford Garda Station, had been on duty during the incident.
He again outlined the events of the day leading to Mr Gallagher’s disappearance and the emergency services’ response to the incident.
He revealed the remains were found 15 metres off the pathway but still some way from the top of the mountain. Mr Gallagher had suffered a number injuries to his body and his hands were clasped around his chest when he was found.
The deceased was removed from the scene and taken down the mountain by members of the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team while advanced paramedic Adrian Mcgeehan pronounced Mr Gallagher was dead.
Garda Superintendent Michael Finan confirmed the death was not suspicious and Mr Mcgee then called to the mortuary at Letterkenny
University Hospital to arrange a formal identification of his uncle. Pathologist Dr Gerry O’dowd gave evidence of a postmortem being carried out.
He said Mr Gallagher had suffered a number of abrasions which were most likely from a fall.
Further investigations showed he had suffered from high blood pressure and also showed signs of heart disease which pointed to a cardiac event on the mountain.
Dr O’dowd outlined a number of potential scenarios which may have eventually led to Mr Gallagher’s passing.
Coroner Dr Denis Mccauley said he was satisfied death was due to cardiac arrest as a result of acute ischemic event in association with hypothermia.
A verdict of misadventure was also recorded by the coroner.
Dr Mccauley and Garda Sergeant Fergus Mcgroary both extended their sympathies to the members of Mr Gallagher’s family who were present at the inquest.
The coroner remarked Mr Gallagher was a unique and interesting man with a strong religious faith.
His family recalled briefly his life and times and how it was the subject of a documentary entitled A Life Less Trodden. That film gave an insight into the unique life of Mr Gallagher which had many twists and turns from being in the New Zealand Air Force to serving James Bond star Roger Moore and the first man on the Moon Neil Armstrong in one of Australia’s top hotels.
The late Bishop Seamus Hegarty approved his application to become a hermit in 1992.
Mr Gallagher’s nephew Mr Mcgee concluded: “He was a very smart man and wanted to leave a mark behind him.
“He tested himself and wanted to test us all.”
He was a very smart man and wanted to leave mark behind him NEPHEW SEAMUS MCGEE YESTERDAY