'No doubt, this was traumatic for everyone' - tragic deaths recalled at Waterford Coroner's Court
Waterford County Coroner John P. Goff opened proceedings at Waterford Courthouse into the sudden deaths of a number of people from across Waterford.
On Tuesday, May 27, Waterford County Coroner John P. Goff opened proceedings into the sudden deaths of a number of people from across Waterford.
In Courtroom 6 at Waterford Courthouse, families, doctors, and members of An Garda Síochána came to attend the proceedings.
Two hearings into the deaths of Waterford teenagers Gilbert Collins and Avu Sampo, who died following an accident on the Cork Road in Waterford city, had to be adjourned for the completion of criminal proceedings. The families were in attendance and were told that the matter could be revisited after the legal proceedings. Mr Goff shared his deepest sympathies with the families of Avu and Gilbert, saying that their sudden deaths had distressed the whole community.
Following this matter, the court then heard of the passing of an elderly woman, who died in late 2023. The woman suffered an unwitnessed fall in her home and was discovered soon afterwards by one of her adult sons. The son was visiting his mother one evening and saw that a curtain was open, which he noted as unusual. He came into the home, discovered his mother at the bottom of the stairs and called an ambulance. She was brought to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and after several days she was transferred to another ward for 'end of life care'.
She subsequently passed away from her injuries. Consultant Pathologist at UHW Dr Eimear Lee performed the autopsy and stated that the woman suffered a traumatic cerebral haemorrhage as a result of the fall.
Mr Goff told her family in court that her passing was "traumatic for everyone".
The court later heard about the upsetting passing of a young man in Waterford City. The man, aged in his late 20s, was discovered unresponsive in a public bathroom area within a shopping centre. A member of staff was carrying out cleaning duties when they noticed that the man was locked in a stall and not responding to calls. The staff member kicked the door down and found a man slumped over, with a syringe in his arm and alcohol nearby. Gardaí were called.
The man was brought to UHW and a post mortem was performed by Dr Lee. The man had high levels of heroin and alcohol in his system and had passed away from drug toxicity. Two of the man's relatives attended the hearing and asked about the superficial cuts and a missing tooth on their loved one's body.
Mr Goff asked for his sympathies to be shared on to the deceased's mother.
After this hearing, proceedings were then opened into the sudden death of another young man in Waterford. The man, aged in his 30s, was discovered unresponsive by his father in the early hours of a date in late 2024. The deceased had been drinking heavily the previous evening. He was seen kneeling outside a property, however, when his father looked closer, he saw a cord tied around his neck. Emergency services were called and quickly attended the scene.
Dr Lee carried out a postmortem and reported ligature marks on his neck and a high level of alcohol and cocaine in his system.
The cause of death was asphyxiation due to hanging, with a background of cocaine and alcohol. The family were too upset to attend the hearing.
