Death of young sportsman Jack

THE tragic death of a talented young sportsman was recalled as the inquest into the death of Jack Pettit (20) took place in Enniscorthy last week. The inquest heard how Jack’s body was discovered by his heartbroken family in the garage of the family home at Rathmore, Broadway, on July 24 of last year.

Garda John O’Flynn of Rosslare Garda Station gave evidence of attending the scene before a deposition was read out from Jack’s cousin Fiona Maloney, the last person to see him alive.

She stated that on the day in question, she sat and talked with Jack before he dropped her to work at 3 p.m.

She said that they just had general conversation and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Jack’s father Liam Pettit told the inquest that he and his wife had last talked to their son that morning at 9 a.m. and at 6.20 p.m. that evening he went to the garage to get a gear-bag when he made the tragic discovery.

Coroner Dr Sean Nixon recommended that the jury return a verdict of suicide and they agreed.

He offered his sympathies to the Pettit family, saying he had heard of Jack’s sporting exploits.

Similarly Inspector Sean Clince offered the sympathies of the gardaí, as did the foreman of the jury. Dr Nixon said that a death certificate would be issued in the coming weeks.