Open verdict on death of woman after heavy fall

AN OPEN verdict was recorded at an inquest into the death of a 47-year-old woman after a heavy fall. Breda Ryan, Kilnap Place, Farranree, Cork, died at Cork University Hospital on March 12th, 2007, after she fell in her partner's home while intoxicated.

An investigation was launched by gardaí and a file was sent to the DPP, who directed that no criminal proceedings be instigated.

Gerry Horgan gave evidence at Cork Coroner's Court that he and Ms Ryan had been partners for five years. He said she was an alcoholic and he was "not far off one". She had been staying with him in his flat at Sunview, Fairhill.

He said Ms Ryan had taken a lot of tablets and had fallen a number of times during the weekend. He put her on a couch with a blanket and eventually called an ambulance on the Sunday night because she was in such a bad state. 0Det Frank Morgan said he understood a certain amount of alcohol had been consumed by Ms Ryan and her partner. Noises coming from the flat during Friday and Saturday night were consistent with an argument.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said the cause of Ms Ryan's death was sepsis with pneumonia associated with blunt force chest trauma.

Liam Downey, Ms Ryan's brother, said his sister had not always been the way she ended up, and her family loved her. He said she had tried all her life to beat the disease of alcoholism.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times