Daughter was laughing as mother Evelyn was buried

THE daughter of Evelyn Joel laughed and joked as a priest prayed over her mother’s body in Wexford General Hospital, her brother claimed yesterday.

At an emotionally charged press conference in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, a clearly upset Tom Connolly claimed Evelyn’s daughter, Eleanor, had also laughed and joked as her frail mother was laid to rest in St Mary’s Cemetery on Tuesday.

“Eleanor arrived down as the priest was praying over the body. She was not upset. She was just laughing and joking. When my sister was being put into the grave, she was also laughing and joking. I was very upset and tempted to go over.”

Evelyn Joel, aged 58, died on January 7, a week after emergency services removed her from her daughter Eleanor’s house at 37 Cluain Dara Estate, Gimont, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Ms Joel, who had multiple sclerosis, was severely malnourished, dehydrated and weighed less than four stone.

Describing Ms Joel as a happy and jolly person who loved knitting and bingo, Tom claimed Eleanor had refused his offer of a lift to take her from her home to the hospital to visit her mother when she was in her final hours.

Tom’s description of the funeral highlighted a split in the family. In the church, there were two groups, he said - Eleanor with three or four friends on one side and he and his family and friends on the other.

Tom filled in details of Evelyn’s life at the press conference in the Riverside Park Hotel. It was due to begin at 4.30pm, but was delayed due to garda concerns that statements made might prejudice any future legal proceedings.

Tom also referred to his sister’s relationship with Alfie, the brother of her husband Billy Joel, with whom she had gone to live after her marriage broke down. That relationship ended several years ago.

After Ms Joel moved in with her daughter less than a year ago, Mr Connolly said he and his siblings had lost contact with their sister. He said they were refused permission to enter the council house at Cluain Dara where Ms Connolly lived with her partner John Costan and their two young children, Matthew and Jessica. Ms Connolly is expecting her third child.

Gardaí last night confirmed the couple and their children had left their family home and had gone to stay with relations. It was reported that stones were thrown at the home on Wednesday night. However, gardaí did not confirm this.

There has been growing anger in the neighbourhood towards Ms Connolly and her family since details of her mother’s death emerged. Last night Enniscorthy town councillor Peter Byrne urged people not to take the law into their own hands.

“I heard rumours of an incident at the house in Cluain Dara. I think people need to wait for the outcome of the inquiries into Ms Joel’s death before rushing to judgement. If any action has to be taken, let the authorities take it. People should never take the law into their own hands.”

It is understood Ms Connolly and her partner visited Enniscorthy Garda Station yesterday for a brief, informal chat with gardaí whose investigation into Ms Joel’s sudden death is expected to last a number of days.

A separate investigation has been launched by the Health Service Executive, who last night outlined the terms of reference of their inquiry into Ms Joel’s death. The inquiry, by three experienced health professionals, will focus on the services, if any, Ms Joel had access to in the two years prior to her death.

Yesterday Tánaiste Mary Harney said the State had to put safeguards in place to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“It is absolutely tragic to read the reports of Evelyn Joel’s death. Words cannot describe how one would feel in relation to the matter and I think we obviously have to be sympathetic in relation to everyone’s concerns here,” she said.

“But above all else, the State has to ensure that, where possible, we have vigorous processes in place to make sure that something like this could not happen again.”