Father of three found unresponsive Waterford house to be laid to rest on Friday

Sarah Slater

A father of three who was found unresponsive in a house in Co Waterford is to be laid to rest on Friday.

Pat Fitzgerald, a former Waterford Crystal worker who was a widower aged in his 70s, was found in a house in St Catherine’s Grange Housing Estate last Friday at around 2:20 pm, when uniformed gardaí responded to an emergency call.

He was taken to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) for treatment but died on Monday. A post mortem examination was subsequently carried out.

A man was arrested at the scene during the incident and subsequently detained at a garda station within the Waterford-Kilkenny Division under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. He was later charged in relation to the investigation and appeared before Waterford District Court.

David Norris (35) of 8 Assumption Terrace, Rosbercon, New Ross, Co Wexford, appeared by video link before Judge Miriam Walsh on Tuesday.

Mr Norris is charged with assault causing harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Acts Against the Person Act 1997.

He was remanded in continuing custody to await further instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Judge Walsh put the matter back to August 19th.

A second male in his 30s was arrested at the scene. An Garda Síochána say the investigation is ongoing.

The local coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist were notified and a technical and forensic examination at the scene has been completed.

Mr Fitzgerald was also a former branch chairman of UNITE, formerly the ATGWU. He was the chair of the 364 branch of the UNITE trade union in 2009 when Waterford Crystal workers occupied the plant.

A senior investigating officer is leading the garda investigation and a family liaison officer is providing support to Mr Fitzgerald's family.

His funeral notice reads that Mr Fitzgerald was the much loved father of Wayne, Joanne and Karl.

“Will be sadly missed by his mother Maura, brothers Nicky and John, sisters Joan, Margie, Brenda, Helen, Ann and June, grandchildren Mia, Ruben, Sofia and Adam, son-in-law Mick, daughter-in-law Barbara, his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends.”

He will repose at Tom Hennessy's Funeral Home, Johnstown, Waterford on Thursday  from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.

Mr Fitzgerald's  funeral will walk from Ballytruckle Green at 11:40am on Friday August 8th to the Sacred Heart Church, The Folly, Waterford for Requiem Mass on arrival at 12:00 noon. Burial afterwards in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ballygunner, Waterford.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Waterford Garda Station on 051 305 300 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.