Killer’s drunk mother drowned after canal fall

The troubled mother of a Limerick gang killer drowned when she accidentally fell into a city canal when very drunk, a coroner’s court has heard.

The body of Susan Killeen, aged 54, of 80 Hyde Rd, Prospect, was recovered from Lough Quay in the early hours of May 2. She was the mother of Nathan Killeen, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Limerick businessman Roy Collins.

Mrs Killeen’s daughter Ciara Killeen, who was in a relationship with John Dundon — serving life for the murder of Garryowen rugby captain Shane Geoghegan— yesterday told Limerick City Coroner’s Court there was a lot going on in her mother’s mind at the time or her death and she “was not great, mentally”.

Before leaving her house at Hyde Rd on the night of May 1, her mother had consumed a bottle of vodka, Ms Killeen said, adding that her mother brought a pillow with her when she left in a taxi at around 9.30pm.

Garda Brian Duddy said he went to the canal at Lough Quay, Clare St, at 1.15am on Friday, May 2. He saw a body lying face-down in the water and it was recovered by members of the Limerick Marine Search and Rescue unit.

Garda Duddy said he recovered an empty bottle of Bushmills Whiskey at the scene.

A number of people, he said, told of hearing a woman who was “very drunk” shouting on the canal bank. One man who was out walking his dog tried to assist the woman onto a bench, but she fell off.

The woman was so drunk, it was claimed, she could not stand and was roaring and shouting. She had been seen with a bottle of whiskey.

Detective Sergeant Ronan McDonagh said he went to the scene at 1.30am and identified the body of Susan Killeen, who he knew for over 15 years.

Ciara Killeen, meanwhile, said her mother had lived with her for three years and was not great, mentally.

Her mother was paranoid about going out, she said.

Pathologist Dr Vourneen Healy said analysis of Mrs Killeen’s blood showed “toxic” levels of alcohol. There were also signs of prescription tablets.

Asked in court by one of her family if Mrs Killeen had died by suicide, the coroner, John McNamara, said it would be virtually impossible to say that.

The medical evidence, he said, showed the deceased had taken a lot of drink and, on the balance of probability, his view was she accidentally fell into the canal and drowned.

An accidental verdict was recorded.