GAA star Ollie Halpin did best to save Mary
MS OWENS WORKED AS SECRETARY TO BRIG GENERAL BOYLAN OF HILLTOWN DAIRY FARM
THE story of how Miss Mary Josephine Owens, Strand St., Clogherhead. Co. Louth, lost her life by drowning on Sunday evening near her home was told at an Inquest held in Clogherhead on Monday.
Deceased, who was aged 24 years, was a daughter of Mrs. Mary Owens and the late Mr. John Owens, Strand Street and was for some time past Secretary to Brigadier General Boylan, Hllltown Dairy Farm, Bellewstown, Co. Meath. It was customary for the deceased to return to Clogherhead on the week-ends.
On the previous day (Sunday) deceased had arrived home at 10 am. from Hllltown on her bicycle. Later she had her dinner and went for a walk with Mrs. James Rath.
She later got her swimsuit and headed to the lifeboat house for go for a swim.
Before she left, she said she would be back as she was going to a dance in the Whitworth Hall, Drogheda that night.
Later her mother saw a number of people going towards the strand and her other daughter, Una, went down. After a while witness went down and saw a number of people around the body of a woman, her daughter.
Oliver Halpln, Mill House, Trinity St., Drogheda (the well-known Co. Louth footballer) swore that for the past six weeks he had been in Clogherhead. About 6 p.m. on the previous evening, with Mathew O’Connor, he went down to the strand for a swim.
Whilst, they were swimmmg he noticed a girl bathing about 20 yards north of them. She was also about 20 yards from the beach. At the time there was a very strong tide flowing—so much so that it carried them about 70 yards in a northerly direction from where they had originally entered the water.
When they left the water, they went onto rocks to see if they could spot the girl. They couldn’t and went to the boathouse and found her clothes, then realising she must be in trouble.
Mathew O’Connor went towards the houses to report the incident and Mr Halpin went down to the water.
Then he spotted something in the sea and rushed in and immediately dragged the body ashore and was joined by O’Connor and they carried it to the grassy bank.
He ommediately applied artificial respiration, while his friend went to notify the Gardal and procure medical aid. He continued artificial respiration and was joined shortly afterwards by other residents and then some of them took over and continued the respiration until Dr. Rath arrived.
Mathew O’Connor, Mill House. Trinity St., Drogheda (factory foreman employed by Messrs. Donaghy) gave similar evidence.
Dr. Monica Rath, Clogherhead, said she was called to the beach and saw the deceased girl. She applied artificial respiration without success.
Death in her opinion was due to asphyxia caused by drownlng.