Family hold private burial for Agnes

AGNES LYONS, whose decomposed body was discovered in the bed of her home last week, is believed to have been privately buried as her sister continued to receive treatment in hospital.

The body of 70-year-old Ms Lyons, inseparable in life from her sister, was released to the family late last week.

They requested a private burial, which took place in the last two days.

A post mortem has all but confirmed the elderly Mayo woman died of natural causes but further tests are being carried out to establish how many months ago she died.

That information will be available before the end of the week.

Ms Lyons’ skeletal body was discovered over a week ago by a doctor visiting the home she shared with her 66-year-old sister Mary Ellen and 74-year-old brother Sonny.

As the body was removed from the home for a post mortem, Mary Ellen was taken to Mayo General for treatment.

She is suffering from an injured leg and malnutrition, among other ailments.

Sonny, who was the only one of the three regularly seen out and about in the last three years, is understood to have told gardaí he did not even know his sister was dead.

It is not known whether he attended the funeral.

Superintendent John O’Driscoll, of Swinford Garda Station, is maintaining an involvement in the case because of the level of local interest and because the lack of information was fuelling speculation about the life and death of the elderly woman.

“We see an inquest as being the appropriate forum for revealing any information about the circumstances of her death,” said Supt O’Driscoll.

He hoped the inquest would take place as soon as possible in order to allow the full facts of the case to be aired.

“The situation is that the body has been released. However, tests are continuing with a view to establishing the time of death.

“That’s the unusual aspect, as we are trying to find the time and it’s not connected to the cause of death,” he said.

“Although the pathologist has not stated a cause of death, we are expecting it to be in line with what we believed from the beginning, natural causes.”

Gardaí have concluded the death of Agnes and her sister’s ill health came about due to the lifestyle they chose to adopt.

Sources have further added they are not at this stage making inquiries about the cashing of pension cheques in Agnes Lyons name.

That was a matter for the Department of Social Welfare, said the source.